Ishant Sharma

Profile

As India’s stock of pace bowlers continued to deplete due to fitness issues, a lanky lad from Delhi profited best. Being the selectors’ perpetual option as a stand-in, Ishant Sharma has been on the periphery of the Indian team since his Test debut against Bangladesh in 2007.

With a privileged height of 6 feet 5 inches and a combination of a high arm delivery action and genuine speed, a determined five-for against a touring Pakistan in 2008 in what was only his third taste of Test cricket endeared Sharma to many. With Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth out of contention, the Delhite grew in stature recording speeds unseen since the times of Javagal Srinath.

It was Venkatesh Prasad, Srinath’s bowling partner who coached Sharma. Prasad helped him to introduce variation in his bowling, master the reverse swing, resulting in his affirmation on the world stage. Sharma was notably responsible for Ricky Ponting’s repeated dismissals, during encounters home and away in 2008. As a frontline bowler with an ability to swing the ball in both directions and a fitness record that few can rival, the speedster played a vital role in India’s ascendancy towards being the world’s foremost Test side.

Fast Facts

• At a speed of 152 kph, Ishant Sharma recorded the second fastest ball by an Indian in an International match, behind Javagal Srinath’s 154 kph.
• In India’s landmark victory in Australia in the 2008 Commonwealth Bank Series Tri-series, Ishant was India’s leading wicket-taker with 14 scalps.
• In the 2008 home Test series win against the Aussies, he was named ‘Man of the Series’ for his 15 wickets, the only Indian pacer to be named series best player since Kapil Dev in 1983.
• At 22 years and 301 days, Ishant became the fifth youngest Test bowler to reach 100 wickets.

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Career

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