Aggressive batter Ashutosh Sharma, who rose to prominence with his lower-order power-hitting performances for Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League, is set to represent a new domestic side in the 2026-27 campaign. The dynamic middle-order player has decided to end his stint with Railways and make a move to Gujarat. The switch is expected to primarily see Ashutosh feature in white-ball cricket fixtures, where his finishing skills will be relied upon heavily by his new side.
Hailing from Madhya Pradesh, Ashutosh started both his List A and T20 careers with his home state. However, after struggling to find consistent playing time and opportunities in the Madhya Pradesh setup, he made an initial shift to Railways. He is now moving once again to advance his career ambitions. Ashutosh will take up one of the three professional player slots in the Gujarat squad. The other two professional signings for the side include Rajasthan pacer Ashok Sharma and leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, although Ashok Sharma is presently sidelined due to an injury.
Gujarat Restructures Coaching Staff With Monty Desai
The arrival of Ashutosh Sharma coincides with a significant coaching overhaul in the Gujarat team setup. Monty Desai has taken charge as the new head coach of the domestic side, succeeding former India off-spinner Ramesh Powar. Desai brings extensive coaching pedigree, having previously served as the head coach of the Nepal national side before working within Canada's coaching setup in recent times.
Meanwhile, Ramesh Powar is believed to have applied for a position on the men's junior national selection panel. Powar also recently worked as a spin bowling consultant for the Australia Under-19 team during their tour of India. With Desai taking the helm, Gujarat are entering the new domestic cycle with fresh strategic leadership across all formats.
Looking Ahead Following English County Stint
Prior to finalizing his domestic transfer, Ashutosh featured in the One-Day Cup in England representing Hampshire. However, his run in the competition proved to be a challenging one with the bat. Across his last seven innings in the tournament, he failed to find substantial form, registering a highest score of just 16 runs.
That overseas opportunity was facilitated through the GMR Group, which co-owns Delhi Capitals in the IPL and also holds ownership in Hampshire County Cricket Club. After experiencing testing English conditions, Ashutosh will now aim to hit the ground running with Gujarat as he seeks to translate his franchise reputation into consistent domestic returns.
