Indian fast bowler Ashok Sharma has described receiving his first call-up to the senior national team as the fulfillment of a long-held dream, with the youngster now hoping to make his international debut during the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe. India will face Zimbabwe in a three-match T20I series in Harare from July 23-26, and Ashok is one of the uncapped players in contention to earn his first cap. Ahead of the tour, the pacer said that wearing the India jersey has always been his biggest ambition. “My first goal will be to wear the India jersey. I have been waiting for that moment to wear that jersey and represent my nation. I have been waiting for this for a long time. So that will be the first thing. The second thing is that I will continue to do what I know best. Whatever I have done so far – the hard work in domestic cricket, the preparation and the routines – I will just keep following it. I will stick to my strengths and not try anything else,” he told Jio Star. The 23-year-old also outlined his immediate objectives for the Zimbabwe series, saying he wants to make the most of the opportunity if he finds a place in the playing XI. Ashok added that performing well in the shorter format could help him get closer to another dream of representing India in Test cricket. “Now that I am in the squad for the series against Zimbabwe, my next goal will be to take as many wickets as possible and try to play as many matches as I can. I want to make this opportunity count. My next goal after that will be to play red-ball cricket for India as soon as possible,” he added. Ashok’s selection comes after he was part of the India A squad for the tour of Sri Lanka in June. He joined the team as a replacement after pacer Yudhvir Singh suffered an injury while campaigning, giving him an opportunity to gain experience with the national development side. The right-arm pacer also revealed the cricketer who shaped his approach to fast bowling the most, identifying the former South African speedster. Dale Steyn as his greatest inspiration. “Dale Steyn is a bowler who is a match-winner in himself. In his day, when his bowling was on point, he could win matches single-handedly. He could take the game away from the opposition in a matter of a few overs,” he said. Explaining what he admires about the legendary fast bowler, Ashok said Steyn’s attitude and methods had a lasting impact on him. “I follow him in terms of his aggression, his run-up, his intensity and the way he used to set up the batsmen. Everything is inspired. He is someone who I look like as a fast bowler,” he added.