Gujarat Titans' (GT) Ashok Sharma delivered a 154.2 kmph thunderbolt to Dhruv Jurel on the final ball of the 16th over to record the fastest delivery of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season on April 4. The GT quick nailed a pinpoint yorker at the Narendra Modi Stadium, that Jurel managed to just about dig out in time, instantly forcing his way into an elite pace club.
The 23-year-old is now among just nine bowlers in IPL history to breach the 154 kmph mark. In doing so, Sharma also became only the third Indian to feature on that list, behind Umran Malik (157 kmph) and Mayank Yadav (156.7 kmph). His effort, 154.2 kmph, places him eighth on the list of fastest deliveries in IPL history.
Here's a look at that 154.2 kmph thunderbolt from Sharma - 154.2 Kmph! Ashok Sharma bowls the Fastest Ball of TATA IPL 2026
Blink and you miss it 😮
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 4, 2026
Ashok Sharma records the 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 at 1⃣5⃣4⃣.2⃣ kmph 🔥
WATCH it here ▶️ https://t.co/coCcGMJpoq#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #GTvRR | @gujarat_titans pic.twitter.com/2JBv0nNhzu
Sharma's rise has been anything but conventional. The right-arm pacer from Rajasthan made his IPL debut earlier this week but almost quit cricket in 2021 after repeated failures to progress beyond the Rajasthan U-23 level.
The pacer participated in a Red Bull Speedster talent hunt, where he caught the eye of Rajasthan Royals scouts Dishant Yagnik and Zubin Bharucha, who later enrolled him as a net bowler for RR.
His first IPL contract came with Kolkata Knight Riders, who picked him in 2022 for Rs 55 lakh. Last year, RR signed him for Rs 30 lakh. However, he didn't get a match with either franchise.
His exploits in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26 season, where he finished as the highest wicket-taker, caught the eye of GT who signed him for Rs 90 lakh in the last auction.
While raw pace defines his early impact, Sharma has also shown variations, including a notably deceptive slower ball, pointing to a broader skill set beyond speed.
Here's a look at where he ranks among the top 10 fastest balls in IPL history:
Fastest Balls In IPL History (Top 10):
1. Shaun Tait - 157.7 km/h
2. Lockie Ferguson - 157.3 km/h
3. Umran Malik - 157.0 km/h
4. Mayank Yadav - 156.7 km/h
5. Mayank Yadav - 155.8 km/h
6. Anrich Nortje - 156.2 km/h
7. Anrich Nortje - 154.8 km/h
8. Dale Steyn - 154.4 km/h
9. Kagiso Rabada - 154.2 km/h
10. Ashok Sharma - 154.2 km/h
Only five bowlers in IPL history have crossed the 155 kmph barrier, underlining the rarity of extreme pace in the tournament. Sharma has not yet entered that bracket, but his immediate impact suggests he could soon push that ceiling.
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