10 things to know about Ishant Sharma

Ishant Sharma - India’s Pace Spearhead

Showing his worth as the leader of the Indian pace attack, Ishant Sharma is fast proving his critics wrong with an inspired performance against Sri Lanka in the first innings of the third Test match at the SSC Colombo. His seventh five-wicket haul helped India bowl out Sri Lanka for 201 runs, giving India a healthy lead of 111 runs.

The tall and lanky fast bowler has constantly been scrutinized for his inconsistency and his tendency to overstep in an innings. Standing at 6’4, Ishant is one of the tallest bowlers to play for India, and this height helps him to obtain bounce and good carry. His quick action gives him sideways movement, which makes him successful against left-handed batsmen.

With India’s bowlers criticized for their inability to take quick wickets and giving away runs in recent times, Ishant will hope to use this series as a stepping stone and rediscover his form. He will want to reclaim his spot in the ODI squad and lead India to many more victories. Here are 10 things you need to know about India’s pace spearhead:

1. Introduction to the game

Ishant started to play serious cricket at the age of 14, where his coach Shravan Kumar immediately realized his talents and encouraged him to go for the national tryouts. He was selected for the U-19 matches, where his performances gave him a chance at the Delhi Ranji Squad. Though he only played 14 first class games, he was picked for the U-19 team’s tour to England and Pakistan.

2. Selection in the IPL

Ishant put in a good performance for India U-19 where he played with Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja, and his performances earned him a place in the IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League. He was bought for $950,000 which was the highest amount paid for a bowler in the tournament.

3. Sehwag’s Trust

While the spell Ishant bowled to Ponting is now legendary, most people don’t know that it was Virender Sehwag who prompted Captain Anil Kumble to give Ishant another over. Sehwag said that Ishant had always bowled long spells for Delhi, so he should be given another over to bowl against Ponting. Kumble agreed, and in the very next over, Ishant got the wicket of Ricky Ponting, making him a star overnight.

4. Ishant’s Bunny

While most people consider Ricky Ponting to be Ishant’s “bunny”, that dubious record actually goes to England captain Alistair Cook. Cook has been dismissed 9 times by Ishant across all forms of international cricket while both Ponting and Michael Clarke have been dismissed seven times.

5. Ishant’s Role Model

Ishant considers Aussie great Glen McGrath to be his role model. Much like how McGrath used his uncanny ability to pitch the ball in uncomfortable lines and lengths, Ishant also wants to emulate his idol and bowl accordingly. Ishant also states that he doesn’t want to be looked upon as a role model to anybody.

Ishant’s spell to Ponting put him on the Cricket map

6. Fastest Delivery

Ishant bowled at ball which was measured at 152.2 kmph in Australia to Ponting, which was one of the fastest deliveries ever bowled by an Indian in international cricket. The benchmark of 150 kmph always seemed to be too far away for Indian bowlers, but with Ishant breaking the barrier, it created history.

7. Ishant’s Dropped catches

Three of the highest individual scores ever made against India in test matches - Alistair Cook’s 294, Michael Clarke’s 329* and Brendon McCullum’s 302 - were all made after the batsmen were dropped by Ishant Sharma early in the innings. Ishant’s follow-through has often been criticized for being awry, which makes the bowler less attentive to caught-and-bowled chances.

8. Good Away Record

Of Ishant’s 7 five wicket hauls in Test Cricket, 6 have come away from India. Ishant has two five-fers in West Indies, two in New Zealand, one in England, and one in Sri Lanka. Ishant’s lone five-fer in India was also his first, a 5-118 against Pakistan in Bangalore.

9. Dubious IPL Record

Ishant is the only bowler to feature on both the list of “Best bowling figures” and “Most runs conceded” in the IPL. He bowled a fiery spell of 5-12 in just 3 overs against Kochi Tuskers Kerala but also conceded 66 runs in 4 overs against Chennai Super Kings. His hot-and-cold bowling is one of the main reasons he is not consistently picked for the ODI squad.

10. Batting Prowess

Ishant Sharma starred in a record 81 runs partnership with VVS Laxman in the first test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2010-11 in Mohali, where India chased down a target of 216 from being 124/8. The partnership is still the highest 9th wicket partnership in a successful fourth innings chase in a test match.

With India playing back-to-back series against Sri Lanka and then South Africa, Ishant will look to continue his good form and remain as India’s go-to bowler under new captain Virat Kohli. With bowlers like Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Stuart Binny providing him ample support, Ishant must finally prove that he can be consistent and lead India in the coming years.