Which of the following pairs is NOT correctly matched (instrument to the artist)?

Correct option is A

The correct answer is (A) Pakhawaj - Shiv Kumar Sharma.

Explanation:
Shiv Kumar Sharma was a renowned Santoor player, not a Pakhawaj player. The Pakhawaj is a traditional Indian barrel-shaped drum used in classical music, especially in the Dhrupad tradition. It was famously played by Pandit Govindrao Burhanpurkar and Pt. Ramashish Pathak, among others.

Information Booster:

• Shiv Kumar Sharma is credited with popularizing the Santoor in Indian classical music.
• The Pakhawaj is a percussion instrument and a precursor to the tabla. It is primarily used in Dhrupad music.

Additional Information:

• Sitar - Pt. Ravi Shankar → Correct. Pt. Ravi Shankar was a legendary sitar maestro known for his contributions to Hindustani classical music.
• Sarod - Amjad Ali Khan → Correct. Amjad Ali Khan is a world-famous Sarod player, known for his innovative playing style.
• Tabla - Kishan Maharaj → Correct. Kishan Maharaj was a renowned Tabla maestro, known for his exceptional rhythmic mastery.