Team India’s star fast bowler Ishant Sharma turned 36 today (September 2). Ishant was last seen playing in the Kanpur Test match against New Zealand in November 2021. Since then he has been out of the Indian team. The main reason for Ishant being out of Team India is his fitness and poor form. Ishant is unlikely to return to the Test team now because young bowlers like Mohammad Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed have emerged in the fast bowling unit.
…When Ricky Ponting became helpless in front of Ishant
Right-arm fast bowler Ishant Sharma has bowled many brilliant spells in his cricketing career, but fans can never forget his stormy bowling in the Perth (WACA) Test against Australia on 19 January 2008. Then Ishant bowled a brilliant spell of nine overs during Australia’s second innings. During this time, Ishant troubled Australian captain Ricky Ponting with his accurate length and pace. Ultimately Ishant was also successful in dismissing Ponting.
Despite excellent bowling, Ishant Sharma could not take any wicket in the first eight overs. In such a situation, Indian captain Anil Kumble wanted to give him rest. But Virender Sehwag told Kumble that Ishant is capable of bowling long spells. In such a situation, Kumble gave Ishant one more over. Ishant lived up to the trust and did wonders on the first ball of his 9th over itself, when he dismissed Ricky Ponting. During the match, most of Ishant’s balls came inwards or swung in the air and went out. But that ball of Ishant did not come in that much and remained straight. Ponting could not understand this fuller ball and the ball hit the bat and went to the first slip, where Rahul Dravid took an easy catch.
Let us tell you that Ishant Sharma had got Ricky Ponting caught out by Rahul Dravid in the first innings of that Test match. The Indian team managed to win that Test match by 72 runs. That 9-over spell of Ishant was so good that even Steve Waugh, who was not one to praise easily, praised it. This was a big thing for this fast bowler who was playing his fourth Test match. This spell changed Ishant Sharma’s life. Just a month later, he was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2008 auction for $9,50,000 (nine lakh fifty thousand dollars).
Such is Ishant Sharma’s international career
Ishant Sharma made his Test debut against Bangladesh in Dhaka on 25 May 2007. Ishant has played 105 Tests, 80 ODIs and 14 T20 matches for India so far. Ishant has taken 311 wickets in Tests, 115 in ODIs and 8 in T20s. Ishant Sharma is the second Indian fast bowler to play 100 or more Tests. Apart from Ishant, only Kapil Dev could do this. Ishant is at the second position along with Zaheer Khan among the Indian fast bowlers who have taken the most Test wickets. Ishant Sharma has taken five wickets in an innings 11 times in Test cricket. He also once took 10 wickets in a Test match against West Indies.
Ishant Sharma has taken the most wickets against England so far. During the 2008 Australia tour, Ishant had bowled a memorable spell against Ricky Ponting in the Perth Test. After this, he was an important player in India’s victory in the Lord’s Test against England in 2014. Ishant also remains in the headlines for his long hair. Ishant, who is 6 feet 4 inches tall, is fondly called ‘Lambu’ in the team. Ishant Sharma married Indian women basketball player Pratima Singh on 10 December 2016.
Most successful Indian fast bowler
Kapil Dev – 434 wickets
Zaheer Khan – 311 wickets
Ishant Sharma – 311 wickets
Javagal Srinath- 236 wickets
Mohammed Shami – 229 wickets
Ishant’s record against all teams in Tests
1. England: 23 Tests – 67 wickets
2. Australia: 25 Tests – 59 wickets
3. West Indies: 12 Tests – 46 wickets
4. New Zealand: 9 Tests – 38 wickets
5. Sri Lanka: 12 Tests – 36 wickets
6. South Africa: 15 Tests – 31 wickets
7. Bangladesh: 7 Tests – 25 wickets
8. Pakistan: 1 Test – 5 wickets
9. Afghanistan: 1 Test – 4 wickets
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)