Key facts
- Ashok Sharma stated he aims to bowl at 160 kph
- Interview given exclusively to The Times of India
- 160 kph would rank among the fastest deliveries in cricket history
- India is actively seeking express pace options in its bowling attack
Ashok Sharma, an emerging Indian fast bowler, has staked a bold claim for his future in the game, telling The Times of India in an exclusive interview that he believes he can one day reach 160 kph — a speed that would place him among the fastest bowlers ever to have played international cricket.
'I can touch 160 kph one day,' Sharma said, outlining an ambition that reflects both his self-belief and the aggressive intent he brings to his bowling. The figure of 160 kph is not casually thrown around in cricket — it is a threshold that only a handful of bowlers in history, such as Shoaib Akhtar and Brett Lee, have consistently challenged or crossed.
Sharp pace has historically been a relative rarity in Indian cricket, with the country's greatest bowlers often relying on swing, seam, and variations rather than raw speed. The current era, however, is seeing a generational shift, with bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah leading the way in terms of effectiveness if not always sheer pace. Sharma's stated ambition to bowl at 160 kph represents the next frontier.
Whether or not the 160 kph target is eventually reached, Sharma's confidence and focus on pace development make him a player to watch. In a period where India's bowling attack is under scrutiny following a difficult series in England, the emergence of a genuinely fast young bowler would be a timely development.