IPL 4: Ishant Sharma and Dale Steyn - Demolition Brigade

The IPL is a great platfrom for facilitating sharing of skills

Dale Steyn is unarguably the world’s best fast bowler currently and when he bowls all eyeballs are supposed to follow him. However, in the game against Kochi Tuskers Kerala there was a shift in balance as Ishant Sharma fired the house with his express pace lethal bowling. He reduced Kochi Tuskers Kerala to a miserable 2/4 as he took 3 wickets in his very first over. He proved that with some assistance and in his best rhythm he matches the very best, he matches Dale Steyn.

Dale Steyn looked a bit coy when bowling to the tail-enders as all damage had already been done by Ishant Sharma however the pace-man did his job perfectly routing the lower order with wicket to wicket bowling.

Perhaps, what has so far separated the two bowlers in international cricket has been consistency. It is indeed a big-leap to compare the two given Ishant’s inexperience at the international level but since the two share the same dressing room at Deccan Chargers Hyderabad it may be done. Ishant is relatively young and he must conserve himself and not be another case of burnouts as has been for India in the past. Thee T-20 format of the game with only 4 overs to bowl allows him to give his all in a short spell which suits him.

Both bowlers come straight on rather than the conventional side on swing bowlers. Dale Steyn has the unique ability to swing the ball as he continues to hit the upper speed limits whereas Ishant relies on bounce and seem of the wicket. In this manner, the two complement each other and look potent in one line up.

Ishant Sharma has a great opportunity to learn from Dale Steyn and learn the tricks of the trade from him. The two bowlers play on different tracks in their respective countries and hence both can share valuable information with each other. The IPL is a wonderful platform for such sharing that benefits cricket in general.

Another aspect of the game that Ishant Sharma can look on as he works with Dale Steyn is art of controlled aggression. Dale Steyn is the sort of bowlers who exhibits his aggression through nippy bouncers and cold stares rather than by way of words. Ishant is still a little lean (no pun intended) in this aspect.

The two overall make a demolition brigade in this IPL 4.