Indian team in the last 10 years, majorly under Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri performed exceptionally well in the overseas test matches with two series wins in Australia. Kohli and Shastri together developed the Indian pace battery which consists of pace bowlers who can take 20 wickets in the seaming wickets.
Ishant Sharma was one of the gems of that attack, he recalls how Shastri used to would pinch him if he was not giving 100% on the field to make him angry, so he can deliver in the game.
Ishant credits Shastri for the growth in his career-
“Ravi bhai has had a lot of impact on our growth. The biggest was that he would always have positive things to say, even if we endured a poor match,”
“Another one of his strengths is that he knows how to bring the best out of a player. Like with me, he knows that if he has to make me give by 100 per cent, I need to get angry. So he would say things that hurt you, pinch you. It drove you mad,” said the Indian pacer.
The right-handed pacer became the second pacer after Kapil Dev to feature for Men in Blue in 100 test matches, Ishant made his debut for team India in 2007 in the longer format of the game, and he has taken 311 wickets in 105 test matches.
“He sensed what each player needed to hear and work things accordingly to channel that emotion. That’s how he used to deal with an individual. However, after the match was over, he would get back to being a totally different person. He said things like ‘Forget if you’ve had a bad match. Focus on the next game,” said Sharma.
Ready to roar with the Capitals once again! #YehHaiNayiDilli #IPL2023 #CapitalsUniverse https://t.co/Xt9ztCzzX3
— Ishant Sharma (@ImIshant) February 26, 2023
For India, the tall fast bowler last played against New Zealand in a test match in December 2021. In the IPL 2023 auction, Sharma was brought by Delhi Capitals (DC) for the price of INR 50 Lakhs.
IPL 2023 will kick off on 31st March with the opening match between Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings, while DC will play their first game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on 1st April at Ekana Stadium City in Lucknow.