Ashok Sharma bowls fastest bowl of IPL 2026 vs Rajasthan Royals

Gujarat Titans unearthed a moment of raw pace brilliance in IPL 2026 as Ashok Sharma sent down the quickest delivery of the season so far during their clash against the Rajasthan Royals at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The young pacer consistently hurried the Royals batters, but it was the final ball of the 16th over that truly stood out. Charging in with intent, Sharma unleashed a searing yorker at 154.2 kmph to Dhruv Jurel, marking the fastest delivery recorded in the ongoing season. The effort not only highlighted his potential but also placed him among the quickest bowlers to feature in the league this year. The Indian Premier League has long been a stage for extreme pace, with several fast bowlers pushing the limits of speed. Despite Sharma’s effort, the all-time record still belongs to Shaun Tait, whose thunderous 157.71 kmph delivery in 2011 remains unmatched. Representing the Rajasthan Royals, Tait produced that fiery spell against the then Delhi Daredevils in Jaipur. Bowling with hostility, he had already dismissed Virender Sehwag before testing Aaron Finch with sheer pace. The record delivery beat Finch all ends up, narrowly flying over the stumps. Over the years, a few have come close. Lockie Ferguson clocked 157.3 kmph during the IPL 2022 final while playing for Gujarat Titans, falling just short of Tait’s mark. Meanwhile, Umran Malik set the benchmark for Indian pacers with a 157 kmph rocket for Sunrisers Hyderabad the same season, later earning an India call-up after a 22-wicket campaign. He also went on to record a 155 kmph delivery in international cricket against Sri Lanka in 2023. More recently, Mayank Yadav made headlines in IPL 2024 by hitting 156.7 kmph for Lucknow Super Giants against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, registering one of the fastest deliveries by an Indian in the tournament.

Fastest deliveries in IPL history

Even as new names continue to emerge, Tait’s iconic Jaipur thunderbolt remains the benchmark for extreme pace in the IPL, with every new generation of fast bowlers chasing that elusive record.

Delhi Capitals’ Mitchell Starc (PTI Photo)

Aakash Chopra has raised concerns over Cricket Australia’s reported decision to delay Mitchell Starc’s availability for IPL 2026, questioning the logic behind resting a fully fit player.Starc, who was expected to spearhead the bowling attack for Delhi Capitals, is likely to miss the initial matches due to workload management despite not playing any competitive cricket for nearly two months.In a video on his YouTube channel, Chopra expressed his confusion over the move, especially with other Australian quicks like Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins already sidelined due to injuries.“If Mitchell Starc is also not going to come at the start, what is Cricket Australia doing? You didn’t let Josh Hazlewood come, Pat Cummins isn’t coming, and now you have held back Mitchell Starc, even though he is absolutely fit. He has already said goodbye to T20Is. So what has he done in the last two months or so?” he said.Chopra pointed out that Starc has not featured in any matches since the 2025–26 Ashes and questioned the need to preserve him so early for the upcoming five-Test series against India.“He hasn’t played any cricket after the Ashes, but despite that, you have asked him to rest because a big Test season is coming up, in which there are five Test matches against India. That’s just before the next IPL. Why are you doing that now?” he observed.The former India batter also suggested that franchises may soon need to rethink their stance if players begin missing IPL matches despite being fit, simply as a precaution.Chopra also spoke about Lockie Ferguson, who is reportedly set to miss the start of IPL 2026 to spend time with his family.“I am thinking about Lockie Ferguson, and that’s a serious one. I don’t know whether he has an injury or not, but based on what I have read, he isn’t available for seven matches. He is saying he wants to spend some time with the family,” he said.Ferguson, who will represent Punjab Kings after being picked up for ₹2 crore, could miss a significant portion of the tournament, something Chopra believes franchises will need to take seriously.“He was available at the base price. He was bought for ₹2 crore. He is playing for New Zealand. Then he will go home and spend time with his family. It’s not a bad thing. Don’t judge anyone, but if you are leaving seven matches in the IPL after giving a commitment just because of that, then teams will have to realize that this is not right,” Chopra observed.Chopra added that there is a growing possibility of players opting for partial participation while earning pro-rata payments, though he clarified he was not accusing anyone of doing so deliberately.

New Zealand players celebrate a wicket during the third T20 international against South Africa in Auckland on March 20, 2026
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

Lockie Ferguson  set to miss the early stages of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 for Punjab Kings (PBKS)
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

Lockie Ferguson (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)

NEW DELHI: Lockie Ferguson will miss the early part of IPL 2026 as he chooses to spend time with his family after recently becoming a father. The fast bowler, who plays for Punjab Kings, is expected to join the squad later in the tournament after taking a short break from cricket.Ferguson explained his decision. “Just had a wee son, trying to spend as much time as I can at home and help my wife out,” he said ahead of the 3rd T20I against New Zealand, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo. “I’ll have a few weeks off after this, before sort of heading to the later stages of the IPL and away for the winter.”

He had earlier taken only a brief break during the T20 World Cup 2026, spending just a few days with his family before returning to play. Now, he wants a longer rest to balance personal life and cricket. Ferguson said he still enjoys representing the New Zealand national cricket team, adding, “Always a pleasure playing for the Black Caps, really enjoyed my time in India with the group again.” In his absence, Punjab Kings may turn to players like Ben Dwarshuis, along with other pace options in their squad.

Commitment to New Zealand and future goals

Ferguson made it clear he is not stepping away from international cricket. He said, “They thought this was my last game (laughs). No, I’m still very committed to play for New Zealand.”Looking ahead, he is focused on upcoming global tournaments and added, “Looking forward to the next two World Cups, there’s a great opportunity for our squad.” He also mentioned working hard to stay fit and contribute to the team.On the growth of cricket, Ferguson supported the idea of a franchise T20 league in New Zealand, saying, “I think it’s exciting that there’s a prospect at a franchise tournament,” and highlighted the country’s talent and potential to showcase its cricket on a bigger stage.