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The Rajasthan cricket team has suffered a major setback ahead of the upcoming domestic season as one of its most promising fast bowlers has decided to leave the state. After making headlines with his impressive pace and strong performances for Gujarat Titans, Ashok Sharma is all set to begin a fresh journey with the Gujarat cricket team this season.
Ashok’s surprising move came soon after his breakthrough IPL 2026 campaign with the Gujarat Titans, where he caught everyone's attention with his raw speed and fearless bowling. He started the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, well but could not keep up the consistency.
Gujarat Titans speedster Ashok Sharma leaves Rajasthan for this state
Ashok Sharma has decided to represent Gujarat in domestic cricket from the upcoming season. The right-arm fast bowler has already received a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) for a fresh start.
The youngster explained that he decided to do so because he felt Gujarat would offer him better opportunities to grow his career than Rajasthan. Ashok Sharma was quoted as saying by Times of India: “For better opportunities, I decided to move to Gujarat.”
The timing of the Gujarat Titans fast bowler’s exit is a huge blow for Rajasthan, especially because their pace department is already facing several problems.
Senior pacers Deepak Chahar and Khaleel Ahmed have struggled with injuries in recent years; as a result, the 36-year-old Aniket Choudhary remains the only senior fast-bowling option at Rajasthan for the upcoming domestic season.
Ashok Sharma's sensational bowling performance
Ashok Sharma had only recently made his senior debut for Rajasthan in December last season, but wasted no time making an impact. In just four First-Class matches, he picked up 14 wickets and impressed with his ability to trouble batters with genuine pace.
His white-ball numbers were equally impressive. He claimed 22 wickets in 16 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches, followed by 13 wickets in only seven matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
His brilliant performances across the formats had earned him a place in the Gujarat Titans’ squad during IPL 2026, where many praised his speed and potential for the future.
Ashok played 6 matches for the Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026 and took 6 wickets. He even bowled the fastest delivery of the season at a stunning speed of 154.2 kmph. Notably, GT reached the IPL 2026 final, where they suffered a heartbreaking defeat against RCB at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Another big blow for Rajasthan as Ganesh Suthar leaves for Haryana
Adding to Rajasthan’s worry, another talented fast bowler, Ganesh Suthar, has also decided to leave the state and will now represent Haryana in domestic cricket. He, too, has been granted an NOC by the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA), as reported by Times of India.
Ganesh enjoyed an outstanding Under-23 season and finished as the sixth-highest wicket-taker in the 2025-26 CK Nayudu Trophy with 37 wickets in just eight matches. The fast bowler moved to Haryana in search of better opportunities and a brighter future.
