Why isn't anyone talking about Ishant Sharma?

Over the past two years we’ve witnessed the arrival of Jasprit Bumrah.

He is an exceptional bowler for the Indian cricket team, there’s no doubt about that. The fast bowler took 13 wickets with an average economy rate of 9.23, which includes the hat-trick, during the West Indies tour. It was his first Test hat trick, and he’s also the third Indian cricketer to take a Test hat-trick.

As the India vs West Indies tour came to an end, we saw all praises for Jasprit Bumrah, but we have forgotten Ishant Sharma’s first-ever 50, a knock to remember. It’s very rare to see a tail-ender achieving a half-century. There was all praise from the dressing room once he reached the 50-run mark in 80 balls, which included seven boundaries. The fast pacer also took 11 wickets at an average of 12.17 in both the Tests against West Indies.

Ishant Sharma joined the trio, along with Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah. Over the last two years no team has claimed 50 Test wickets with more than two fast pacers. It’s fascinating to see the stats of the trio, who set a benchmark and the record for other players of other teams. Bumrah, who made his Test debut against South Africa, picked 62 wickets in just 12 Test matches. Then there’s Mohammed Shami with 58 wickets at an average of 25.68 and Ishant Sharma with 52 wickets at an average of 19.24

(AFP Photo/William West)

The cricketer with No. 97 jersey, Ishant Sharma, is just eight Tests away from completing 100 Tests. The most experienced spearhead will soon join the elite 100-Test club as well. Adding to his record books, during the West Indies tour Sharma became the first fast bowler to take the highest number of wickets on foreign soil. He achieved his record by surpassing Kapil Dev’s record. Dev took 155 wickets in a Test-format game outside Asia, whereas Ishant Sharma took 156 wickets, leaving the legend behind.

These impressive numbers in a short period are precisely why I feel Sharma needs to be praised and respected by everyone. Considering it came after looking at the number of wickets taken by each, Sharma is not far from Bumrah’s numbers, and his average is also much better than other Test pacers in his team.

After the success of the Indian paces, Bumrah said that there is a good brotherhood in the dressing room where we share ideas and knowledge at strenuous times.

“We have done a lot of hard work. Last year, we played a lot of away matches,” he said. “Lot of camaraderie is there, we back each other. Even if things are going well, we discuss how to get better. We have a good relationship, all of us. We want to get better every year.

“Ishant has played a lot more cricket than all of us. Shami has also played a lot of cricket. I am the new guy and I try and ask them a lot of questions. I get to know what works in different conditions. If the wicket is not doing anything, what should we do”.

We all know what this six-foot five-inch Indian fast bowler is capable of. Looking at his track record, in one word he is an achiever. We all still remember the mesmerising spell he bowled to Ricky Pointing at Perth in 2008 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, and it will be remembered in the years to come.

Ishant Sharma’s affirmative transformation turned out to be a bonus for Indian Test cricket team. In the recent tour, after collapsing the West Indies batsmen, he added a ninth five-wicket haul to his record.

The 19th-century French author Alexandre Dumas’s The Three Musketeers said, “All for one and one for all”. It means just like Bumrah’s quick success grabbed the attention of the netizens, teammates and his fans, in the same way Sharma’s transformational positive comeback should also deserve acclamation and praise from all cricket lovers.

All praise to this young man, who turned 31 on 2 September 2019. He should stay long and play good cricket in the coming days for India and also the team also need such dashing pacers in order to seal some good games.