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Indian batter Ashutosh Sharma has joined Hampshire for the 2026 One-Day Cup in England. The 27-year-old will bring further firepower to the county side's ranks as they target better results than their 2025 runners-up showing.

Hampshire will face Yorkshire at Scarborough on 21st July. Ashutosh would strengthen the middle order. The Indian batter is currently part of the Delhi Capitals in the IPL, and this transfer would make the state another link to the player as both are owned by GMR Group.

Ashutosh has established himself as a Hard hitter in recent years. He owns the record for the fastest men's T20 fifty by an Indian, attaining it in 11 balls.

Giles White, the Hampshire Director of Cricket, was delighted to sign Ashutosh. He stated, We believe he will adapt well to the English conditions.

Hampshire director of cricket Giles White said:

"We're really pleased to sign Ashutosh for the One-Day Cup. He is a player of great potential and has done well for Delhi Capitals in the IPL recently, so he knows what it's like to perform to a high standard. We look forward to welcoming him into the group and seeing what he can do in a Hampshire shirt as we look to go one step further than last year in the competition."

Ashutosh has played 21 List A matches, scoring 458 and taking six wickets. But it is in the IPL where he has really impressed everyone with the willow. He began his IPL career with Punjab Kings before moving to Delhi Capitals. In the 2025 and 2026 seasons, he scored 350 runs at a phenomenal rate of 170.

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This won't be Ashutosh's first time playing cricket in England. He played for Middlesex Titans in 2017 before turning out for Gravesend in the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

Last year, he played for Wigan in the Liverpool League, and he created a lot of buzz when he scored a century so soon after coming to England.

His familiarity with the conditions in England should be an asset to Hampshire in the tournament. The county side was on the fringes of victory in their title bid last season and will be hoping that Ashutosh's aggressive batting at the crease can give them the winning edge in the 2026 One-Day Cup.