The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Tuesday that the Men’s Selection Committee had named Ashok Sharma as Yudhvir Singh’s replacement for the remainder of the tournament. The development comes at a crucial stage of the competition, where Tilak Varma’s side is fighting to stay in contention.
Yudhvir Singh, who was retained by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 35 lakh ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, did not feature in any match for the franchise during the campaign. The pace bowler had previously taken four wickets in four matches during the IPL 2025 season.
According to the BCCI, the injury setback was linked to a right rotator cuff issue. The board stated that its medical team, after consultation with a specialist, recommended that Yudhvir undergo a graduated rehabilitation programme under the supervision of the BCCI Centre of Excellence to ensure a full recovery.
Ashok Sharma’s inclusion comes on a day of further significance for the fast bowler, as he received a No Objection Certificate to move from Rajasthan to Gujarat for the 2026-27 domestic season. The Gujarat Titans pacer was retained by the franchise for Rs 90 lakh ahead of IPL 2026 and played a key role during their run to the final, claiming six wickets in six matches.
Widely regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in the domestic circuit, Ashok has consistently demonstrated the ability to exceed speeds of 150 kilometres per hour. His raw pace attracted attention during IPL 2026, where he emerged as one of the tournament’s quickest bowlers.
Before the IPL season, Ashok enjoyed a standout campaign in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26, finishing as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker. He claimed 22 wickets at an impressive average of 15.63, underlining his growing reputation as a high-impact fast bowler.
The pacer had also earned his first India A call-up in February, featuring in warm-up matches against the United States and Namibia ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. His performances and ability to generate extreme pace strengthened his credentials for higher honours.
India A’s updated squad for the tri-series includes captain Tilak Varma, vice-captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ayush Badoni, Nishant Sindhu, Suryansh Shedge, Prabhsimran Singh, Kumar Kushagra, Vipraj Nigam, Yash Thakur, Anshul Kamboj, Arshad Khan, Anukul Roy and Ashok Sharma.
With the tournament entering a decisive phase, Ashok Sharma’s arrival provides India A with additional firepower and depth in the pace department as they prepare for a crucial contest against Afghanistan in Sri Lanka.
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