Ashok Sharma debuts for India in T20I vs Zimbabwe

Fast bowler Ashok Sharma earned his first international cap for India on Thursday, July 23, 2026, making his debut in the opening T20I against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club. The 24-year-old Rajasthan-born pacer was selected for the playing XI following an impressive season with the Gujarat Titans in the 2026 Indian Premier League, where his express pace caught the selectors' attention.

India's new captain, Shreyas Iyer, won the toss and elected to field first in the match, which is the first of a three-game series. Iyer, who took over the T20I captaincy from Suryakumar Yadav in June, is seeking his first victory as skipper after seven consecutive losses in the format. The team had suffered two defeats against Ireland in June and four straight losses against England earlier in July.

Sharma's journey to the national team was highlighted by a standout performance in the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he broke an 11-year-old record to finish as the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 22 scalps. Prior to his international debut, he had played 16 domestic T20 matches, taking 28 wickets, and claimed six wickets in six appearances for the Gujarat Titans in the IPL. He has cited...