After recovering from the injury, Ishant Sharma is all set to get back in his game and pluck some wickets for India in the upcoming Test series in New Zealand. The ace Test bowler of India has passed the fitness Test and earned the ticket to take part in the forthcoming white game.
The Indian pacer thanked the National Cricket Academy (NCA) fitness trainer, Ashish Kaushik for helping him get through the “roller coaster” ride. The lanky bowler had donned a grade 3 tear in his ankle while playing for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy game against Vidarbha at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Ishant was seen writhing in pain as the medics checked his injury on the ground during the game. Post the injury a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) official had speculated that it might take Ishant six weeks to come back in the game. And it was confirmed that Ishant would have to miss out on the two-match Test series against New Zealand.
However, after the fitness tests conducted at NCA on Saturday (15th February), the BCCI official confirmed that the pacer would soon be joining Virat Kohli & Co. for the Test series.
“Yes, he (Ishant) has passed the fitness test and he will join the team in New Zealand,” a BCCI source told PTI.
Ishant Sharma thankful of NCA trainer Ashish Kaushik to help him through the ‘roller-coaster ride’
After passing the fitness Test, Ishant took to his Twitter handle to share the good news with his fans. He thanked the NCA fitness trainer, Ashish Kaushik as he referred to the recovery phase as the “roller-coaster ride”.
“It was a roller coaster ride for me after the injury on my ankle on 20th January but with the help of Ashish Kaushik, I managed to pull it off! Scans were a little scary, but today I am happy that I am fit! Thanks, Ashish Kaushik!” Ishant tweeted on Saturday.
It was a roller coaster ride for me after the injury on my ankle on the 20th January but with the help of Ashish Kaushik I managed to pull it off! Scans were a little scary, but today I am happy that I am fit ! ? Thanks Ashish Kaushik! #recoverymode #recovery #postinjury pic.twitter.com/xwNpecc0Iz
— Ishant Sharma (@ImIshant) February 15, 2020
The lanky pacer is eight wickets short of reaching the landmark of 300 wickets in Test cricket. He is soon expected to join the Indian team for the Test series, starting from 21st February. The first Test will take place at Basin Reserve (Wellington) while the second and the last game of the tour will be held at Hagley Oval (Christchurch).