JAIPUR: Before 2026 IPL started, Ashok Sharma had a modest reward in mind for his hard work: upgrading his silver chain to a gold one. But his elder brother Akshay rejected him with a challenge: earn the India captaincy first. Ashok did not give up easily. Right before he left to play for India A in the Tri Nation A Series in Sri Lanka, I again reminded his brother about the upgrade.The answer was always a signature not yet. It was said that the gold will have to wait for the official call from India.Now, that dream has finally come full circle. With his selection for the T20I series in Zimbabwe this July, the embargo has officially been lifted. Akshay promised that once Ashok returns home from Bengaluru, where he is playing in the Emerging Man Tournament, he is finally allowed to buy any gold chain of his choice.But now, thinking about the elusive India cap in their hands, jewelry has taken a backseat to focus. Instead, the 24-year-old speedster is completely engrossed in visualizing his bowling plans and imagining his first step on the Indian path. “Right now, my focus is strictly on preparation,” Sharma told TOI.On the cusp of his international debut, the Rajasthan pacer draws on the wealth of knowledge gathered from his IPL journey, whether he’s chipping in as a net bowler, waiting in the wings or breaking into the playing XI. In a candid chat, he opens up about the drive behind his stellar domestic season and the crucial tips imparted by the Gujarat Titans coach. Ashish Nehra. Excerpts:Bowling plans:When it comes to my preparation for this great opportunity, I just stick to the principles I have followed so far, work on my strengths, and focus completely on them. My main strength is hitting hard, which allows me to extract a good bounce, so I will keep all my focus on bowling from there. I will also be adaptable to whatever the team requires at any time, whether that means bowling slower balls or yorkers depends entirely on the match situation.IPL Early Years with KKR and RR:I really value my time with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) because you can learn something or the other from each place. I could not get into the playing XI, but I was lucky to be close to legendary figures and international stars like Pat Cummins, Tim Southee, Shane BondSandeep Sharma, and the then KKR bowling coach Bharat Arun sir.I vividly remember a conversation I had with Pat Cummins in 2022 when he was with KKR. I asked him what I need to do to improve, and he asked me, “What is your strength?” When I told him that I can bowl hard anytime and hit that zone whenever needed, he told me to do that thing so well that even if someone wakes me up in the middle of the night, I should be able to bowl perfectly. It reminded me that every great bowler needs a defining weapon, as Jasprit Bumrah or Lasith Malinga are known for their yorkers.Being released from RR motivated me:Just before Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, when our fourth Ranji match was going on, the retention list came out and RR had released me. That encounter really stuck in my mind, and I realized that things just didn’t work with this effort, I needed to do even better. I channeled that energy into focusing strictly on what was in my hands and giving it my absolute best, and thankfully that’s exactly what happened. I finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker, level with Jharkhand’s Sushant Mishra on 22 scalps.The rate of development:My pace was natural when I started, although it wasn’t that fast initially. I only bowled at 130-135 km/h during my under-19 days. Over time, thanks to continuous bowling, rigorous training and special attention to nutrition, the bowling improves and the pace gradually increases. Hitting 150 km/h was a specific goal that I had to talk to my trainer in Jaipur, Vinay Meena. I trained with him on my physique and work on the ground from 2022.Nehra’s advice:When the season ended with Gujarat Titans, Ashish Nehra sir gave me a reality check. He told me that my current age is the best age of my career, and if these two or three years run away, no one will ask me about me. He told me not only to be happy with India A or things like that, but to set a goal to play 100 Test matches for India. My career has just started and that stage is very far but my dream is to play at least 60 to 70 Test matches for the country.Support from seniors:Whenever I had to bowl in the nets, seniors like Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Ishant Sharma were always there to support me. If I faced any difficulties or wanted to learn how to ship better, I could ask anyone and everyone was always ready to help.My stint with India A on the tour of Sri Lanka was also a great experience, although I only turned up for the last match as a replacement player. It was good because I got to play in the final, learned what I could improve, and I had a good conversation with the bowling coach of the team. Lakshmipathy Balaji. Now is my age to learn, so I try to absorb as much as possible from any opportunity I have.Family dynamics:Everyone at home always supported me, but my older brother is the one who did everything for my dream. I wanted to be a cricketer too, but our tight financial situation meant that only one of us could make the cut. He left willingly, losing his own chance at an academy so that our father, who is a farmer, could finance mine. It doesn’t take away from the game entirely, though. He now runs a small cricket academy in Jaipur.He was the one who informed me about my selection in the India team. My elder brother still manages all my expenses. I still have to seek his approval and explain everything to him, like during the IPL when I bought an iPad and had to clear the receipt for him.