I am elated for Ishant Sharma as he will play his hundredth Test match for India. After Kapil Dev, Ishant Sharma will be the first Indian bowler to play 100 Tests and he will achieve this glorious feat against England, and at a special venue — the new Motera Stadium, one of the biggest cricket stadiums in the world. As a fast bowler, I can visualise how great this achievement is. A bowler like Ishant Sharma reaching this stage is a big landmark for him because it will enlist the bowler with the legendary Kapil Dev.
If we look at Ishant Sharma`s career from an eagle’s view, we can deduce that his expertise lies in handling the new ball efficiently. His line and length are accurate, and swing diverse. Ishant Sharma does not only bother the batsmen with his lethal in-swinging deliveries but also titillates the batsmen to nick the ball that is moving away. On myriad occasions, he has also proved that his short-pitch deliveries are deadly, and can pulverize the opposition piecemeal. The Lord`s Test is a great example of this, where he bowled short and scalped seven crucial wickets, wreaking havoc on the opposition, and guiding his team to a comfortable victory.
In contrary to the batsmen, express fast bowlers are acutely vulnerable to athletic injury and we have seen him in and out of the team because of the same. However, what makes him different from other bowlers is the fact that, while battling with the injury during the recuperation period, he even works harder on himself. During this time, cricketers like Sharma play local matches to maintain their fitness to gather strength and make a comeback even stronger.
Ishant`s bowling Sometimes reminds me of my youthful days and numerous great test bowlers. Ramakant Desai used to push really hard with his fast bowling. Likewise, his abundant spirit and adroit talent remind me of bowlers like Abid Ali, Kapil Dev, and Madan Lal. Similarly, not to forget, Srinath and Zaheer Khan were the pacers who have never ceased to impress me. I am confident that Ishant Sharma with his versatile skillset will perform very well during his 100th Test match.
The author is a former bowler, who has played 39 Tests and 19 ODIs for India. Views expressed are the writer’s personal.