India fast bowler Ashok Sharma has described receiving his first senior national team call-up 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 take on Zimbabwe in a three-match T20I series in Harare from July 23 to 26, and Ashok is one of the uncapped players in contention to get his first cap. Ahead of the tour, the pacer had said that wearing the Indian jersey was his biggest ambition. “My first target is to wear the Indian jersey. I am waiting for that moment to wear that jersey and represent my country. I have been waiting for it for a long time. That is 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 continue to follow that. I will stick to my strength and not try anything more,” he told Jio Star. The 23-year-old also outlined his immediate goals for the Zimbabwe series, saying he wants to make the most of the opportunity if he earns a place in the playing XI. Ashok added that a good performance in the shortest format will 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 target is to take as many wickets as possible and try to play as much as I can. I want to make the most of this opportunity. My next goal after that is 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 squad as a replacement after pacer Yudhvir Singh sustained an injury while fielding, giving him an opportunity to gain experience in the national development side. The right-arm pacer also revealed the cricketer who most shaped his approach to fast bowling, identifying the former South African speedster. Dale Steyn as his greatest inspiration. “Dale Steyn is a bowler who is a match-winner in himself. On 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 admired about the legendary fast bowler, Ashok said Steyn’s attitude and approach had a lasting impact on him. “I follow him in terms of his aggression, his run-up, his intensity and the way he sets up the batters.