Rajasthan – Ashok Sharma, an uncapped Indian fast bowler playing for the Gujarat Titans, delivered the fastest ball of the IPL 2026 season so far, clocked at 154.2 kmph.
This record-breaking delivery occurred early in the innings during Match 9 against the Rajasthan Royals, held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Key details regarding this milestone include:
- Historical Significance: This delivery is ranked as the third-fastest ball ever bowled by an Indian pacer in the history of the IPL.
- Match Impact: Sharma’s raw speed was instrumental in putting the Rajasthan Royals’ top-order batters under immediate pressure.
- Player Background: Sharma was acquired by the Gujarat Titans for ₹90 lakhs during the 2026 auction, having previously been part of the Rajasthan Royals squad.
While Sharma’s individual performance set a new benchmark for speed this season, the Gujarat Titans ultimately lost the match as they were unable to successfully chase the target set by Rajasthan.
Blink and you miss it 😮
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 4, 2026
Ashok Sharma records the 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 at 1⃣5⃣4⃣.2⃣ kmph 🔥
WATCH it here ▶️ https://t.co/coCcGMJpoq#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #GTvRR | @gujarat_titans pic.twitter.com/2JBv0nNhzu
The previous historically recognized “IPL Fastest deliveries” in the IPL include:
- Shaun Tait: Often cited as the all-time leader with a delivery of approximately 157.7 kmph.
- Umran Malik: An Indian pacer who famously clocked 157 kmph, likely making him one of the two Indian bowlers the source refers to as being faster than Ashok Sharma.
- Lockie Ferguson: Another consistent high-speed bowler who has reached speeds exceeding 157 kmph.
Which new rules were introduced for the 2026 IPL season?
For the 2026 IPL season, several administrative and logistical rules were introduced or highlighted to manage the league’s growth and the specific auction format:
- Expanded Match Schedule: The 2026 season has been expanded to 84 matches, up from 74 in the previous edition, making it the largest in the tournament’s history.
- Mini-Auction Format: Following the 2025 mega-auction, the 2026 season utilized a mini-auction format held in Abu Dhabi.
- No Right-to-Match (RTM) Cards: For the 2026 mini-auction, the Right-to-Match (RTM) cards were not available for franchises to use.
- Eligibility Restrictions: Players who did not register for the 2025 mega-auction were declared ineligible to participate in the 2026 and 2027 mini-auctions.
- Withdrawal Penalties: To ensure commitment, any player picked in an auction who withdraws before the season starts without a legitimate medical reason or injury is banned from the IPL for two years.
- Increased Salary Cap: The auction purse for each franchise for the 2026 season was set at ₹125 crore (approximately US$15 million).
- Venue Safety and Entry Rules: Specifically at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, new safety protocols were implemented, including the use of QR-coded digital tickets and the addition of six entry gates to manage crowds.
- Split Home Grounds: In a shift for this season, three franchises (RCB, PBKS, and RR) are officially splitting their home matches between two different cities to expand the league’s footprint.
The Impact Player rule remains in effect for the 2026 season, having been part of the tournament since 2023. While not a “new” introduction for 2026, it is a key functional rule that allows teams to use a substitute once per match.
The specific mechanics of the rule as outlined in the sources include:
- Substitution Process: Each team names five players as possible substitutes alongside their playing eleven. A team can introduce one of these substitutes as an “Impact Player” at specific points: before the start of an innings, when a wicket falls, when a batter retires, or at the end of an over.
- Overseas Player Restriction: To maintain the limit on international talent, a team can only use an overseas player as an Impact Player if they have included a maximum of three overseas players in their starting playing eleven. Otherwise, the Impact Player must be an Indian player.
- Strategic Flexibility: To better utilize this rule, teams are permitted to declare their final playing eleven to the match referee either before or after the toss.
While the Impact Player rule is a carry-over, the 2026 season did see other administrative changes, such as the unavailability of Right-to-Match (RTM) cards for the mini-auction and new eligibility restrictions for players who failed to register for the 2025 mega-auction.
Related: IPL 2026: Punjab Kings Stun Defending Champs; Sameer Rizvi Emerges as Early Orange Cap Leader
Which three franchises are splitting their home matches?
For the 2026 IPL season, three franchises are splitting their home matches between two different cities to expand the league’s footprint and address logistical needs:
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB): Splitting matches between Bengaluru (5 matches) and Raipur (2 matches).
- Punjab Kings (PBKS): Splitting matches between New Chandigarh (4 matches) and Dharamsala (3 matches).
- Rajasthan Royals (RR): Splitting matches between Guwahati (3 matches) and Jaipur (4 matches).
The use of secondary venues like the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur for RCB and the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala for PBKS allows fans in these regions to experience live IPL cricket while providing the league with diverse playing conditions.
