India’s veteran fast bowler Ishant Sharma has had a roller coaster ride in his prolonged Test career. Former Australian legendary paceman Glenn McGrath thought Ishant Sharma’s career was coming to twilight but the lanky pacer has successfully turned the tide in the last couple of years.
Sharma had a mundane career till the end of 2017 as he averaged a bizarre 36.55 in 79 Matches since making his debut back in 2007 against Bangladesh. The tall fast bowler scalped only seven five-wicket hauls in the aforementioned time and took a wicket after every 67.1th ball (strike rate).
Since 2018 to date, the Delhi pacer has been a different bowler altogether. Ishant is now the pack leader of the most deadly bowling attack in the world with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami serving as his right-wingers. The tall pacer who was often criticized for his ordinary performances despite having experience under his quiver has taken giant strides in the last couple of years.
Ishant has come up with the goods.
And yes, we love numbers, numbers that prove this massive transformation in India’s most experienced campaigner. Here they are:
Ishant has snared 71 wickets with a staggering average of 19.14 in the 18 Test matches he has played from 2018 to date. The gun pacer has scalped four five-wicket hauls during the same time and the strike rate has shot down from 67.1 to 41.7.
We talk about transition, this has been one which deserves all the accolades.
With Ishant Sharma’s graph taking a downward slope till 2017, many thought the sun was setting on his career including Glenn McGrath but the pacer was able to turn the corner.
“Ishant has a lot of experience, the way he’s a comeback in the last couple years, it been impressive. I thought his career might have been finished at the international level, but he has reinvented himself and he is bowling well,” said Glenn McGrath while talking to Times of India.
The lanky pacer is the leader of the pack.
It has been a tour de force comeback for Ishant Sharma as his performances have gone through the roof. The Delhi lad was the pick of the Indian bowlers in the first Test against New Zealand as he claimed a fifer. In fact, it was a match in which many experts had ruled out the Indian veteran. He was initially not expected to recuperate in time but cleared the fitness test with flying colors.
Then he battled against jetlag, sleeplessness and the New Zealand batting unit. However, all of that went in vain as the tourists were outgunned by 10 wickets. Can he repeat the same kind of performance come the second Test match in Christchurch from February 29? He will definitely need to come up with the best if India is to maintain its Test supremacy as his fast bowling partners, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami have looked out of kilter.
