Ishant Sharma - The boy who needs to become a man

Ishant Sharma needs to keep his aggressiveness in check

Ishant Sharma’s international career began at the end of 2007 - A story of a protagonist who had the potential to alter the fortunes of Indian cricket. A young fast bowler popularly known as Lambu in the U-19 cricket circles took the field against Pakistan on a typical sub-continent pitch in Bangalore.

He bowled his heart out on a flat deck against India's arch enemies and claimed a five-wicket haul in his second Test match. In spite of his good performance it was pointed out that he bowled too short and too wide; something which he is criticized for even today.

Riding on his good performance in that series, the then 19-year-old Ishant booked himself a berth on the flight to Australia and the tour turned out to be something of a fairytale for him. His probing spell to then Australian skipper Ricky Ponting, one of cricket's modern great has since become a part of cricketing folklore.

Building on his rhythm in Tests he bowled splendidly in the ODI series and ended up as India's highest wicket-taker. He consistently clocked in the high 140's and India had found a perfect foil for the wily Zaheer Khan. But cricket, as they say, is a game of glorious uncertainties.

Ishant started off his career as a lanky fast bowler. Somewhere down the line he spluttered into a medium fast bowler, as has been the case with many of the young Indian fast bowlers. His lack of genuine pace and tendency to bowl short of length invariably proved expensive. Add to it, a spate of injuries troubling his ankle. He was like a machine on downtime more than it was up and running.

There were instances such as his 7/74 performance at Lord’s against England in 2014 which helped India clinch a rare overseas victory, where Ishant showed how good a bowler he can be if he finds his rhythm. That is exactly what makes it more frustrating as a fan when doesn't bowl to his potential. It is a matter of great regret that the boy who was touted as the next big thing in Indian cricket on his first tour by Steve Waugh failed to be as penetrating as he could have been, at least till now.

Ishant’s 7/74 gave India a rare overseas victory against England in 2014

If his Test record leaves much to be desired, his One-Day record almost makes you pull out your hair. There was a period when he would seem to lose his bearings especially when handed the ball in death overs to defend the runs on the board.

The purpose to put forth these facts is not to draw a curtain upon his career, but rather as an opportunity to reflect on his career now that he has achieved the milestone of 200 Test wickets. Ishant is no more a starry-eyed teenager. At 26 he is halfway through his career and has gotten used to playing with pain, criticism and failures.

While it would have been excusable for him to get carried away with his emotions on the field in his early days, he can no longer afford to do so. This does not mean he should not express himself on the field, but it would be foolish to lose any amount of cricketing action due to his on-field behaviour, in light of his recent ban.

Any bowler who takes 200 Test wickets is undoubtedly good to play at the highest level. Ishant must reflect on his career and plan for the years left at the international level. Time to congratulate him on his impressive series in Sri Lanka but its also time that he stands out as India's strike bowler, assume the leadership of the pack and deliver on his talent on a more consistent basis keeping his aggressiveness in check.