The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 has found its newest speed sensation in Ashok Sharma. During the Match 9 clash between the Gujarat Titans (GT) and the Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Saturday, the 23-year-old uncapped pacer stunned the cricketing world by clocking a delivery at 154 km/h. The feat officially makes him the bowler of the fastest delivery in the 2026 season so far, surpassing the previous mark of 150.9 km/h set by Anrich Nortje. You can follow GT vs RR IPL 2026 live scorecard here.

Who Is Ashok Sharma? All You Need To Know About Gujarat Titans Pacer Who Bowled Fastest IPL 2026 Delivery

Ashok Sharma’s journey to the IPL is a story of resilience. Hailing from Rampura village in Rajasthan, he is the son of a farmer, Nathulal Sharma. His cricketing ambitions were nearly derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the unfortunate passing of his coach, former leg-spinner Vivek Yadav.

Despite these setbacks, Sharma’s Dale Steyn-esque action and ability to hit hard lengths consistently earned him a spot as a net bowler for the Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders. His breakthrough came in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025–26, where he finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker, paving the way for his multi-million rupee IPL contract.

Although Sharma was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad in 2022 and the Rajasthan Royals in 2025, he did not feature in a single match during those seasons. His luck changed at the IPL 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi, where a bidding war between GT and KKR saw his price jump from a base of INR 30 lakh to a final winning bid of INR  90 lakh by the Gujarat Titans. Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals, Live Score Updates, IPL 2026 Match 9.

The Record-Breaking Delivery

The landmark moment occurred during the 16th over of the Rajasthan Royals' innings. After consistently operating in the high-140s, Sharma unleashed a searing final ball that hit the 154 km/h mark on the speed gun.

Ashok Sharma's Thunderbolt

The delivery not only revitalised the Titans' defence but also solidified Sharma’s reputation as a genuine tearaway pacer. Earlier in the match, he had already grabbed headlines by dismissing the dangerous Shimron Hetmyer, proving that his raw pace is backed by wicket-taking ability.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 04, 2026 09:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).