JAIPUR: In the last two years, life has been on tenterhooks for Ashok Sharma. But the IPL 2022 mega auction, where Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) forked out 55 lakh to buy him, brought hope going ahead in a career that took a hit due to the Covid-19 pandemic, death of his coach and personal illness.
"I made it to the Rajasthan Under-19 team in 2019. Pandemic struck and there was no Under-19 cricket the next year. Then in 2021, my coach Vivek Yadav passed away. Later that year, I was drafted in the Under-23 probables, but because I had just recovered from dengue, I could not give my best in the Challenger Trophy and failed to make it to the 2021-22 CK Nayudu Trophy squad. It was tough and frustrating. Khelney ko milta toh shaayad India U-19 bhi khelta (If I had played cricket for the state in the last two years, who knows I would have represented India at the U-19 level)," recalls the right-arm pacer who will turn 20 on July 17 this year.
