Ishant Sharma closing in on momentous feat for India, set to join Kapil Dev and Zaheer Khan in elite list
- India vs England: In the absence of the experienced Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav, onus will be on Ishant to shoulder India's fast bowling responsibilities.
The upcoming India vs England Test series holds plenty of significance for Ishant Sharma. The fast bowler last played for India in February of last year in a Test match against New Zealand, before cricket was brought to a halt. Later, he injured himself during the middle of the IPL 2020, which led to him missing the tour of Australia. However, ever since, Ishant has undergone intense rehab at the NCA in Bengaluru before finally being declared fit for the England Tests.
In absence of the experienced Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav, onus will be on Ishant to shoulder India's fast bowling responsibilities along with Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur. Ishant is likely to make it to India's Playing XI for the opening Test in Chennai starting February 5, and if and when he does, the fast bowler will find himself on the cusp of a huge achievement for India.
Having played 97 Tests, not only is Ishant on the verge of playing 100 Tests for India during the series, the 32-year-old fast bowler is only three strikes away from completing 300 Test wickets for India. Provided he gets there, Ishant will become the sixth Indian bowler, but only third among fast bowlers, after Kapil Dev and Zaheer Khan to achieve the feat for India. Besides, Ishant is only two wickets away from completing 100 Test wickets in India. He will become the fourth India pacer to do so after Kapil (219), Javagal Srinath (108) and Zaheer (104).
Since 2018, Ishant's form has really peaked in Test matches for India. He has a bowling average of under 20, which is better than Bumrah. Ishant makes a breakthrough after every 41.7 balls in Tests, which is six balls better than Bumrah's strike rate of 47.9. And here's a stat that will really act as music to India's ears. The last time when the two teams played in England, Ishant was the leading wicket-taker for his team with 18 wickets.
Ishant is coming off decent match practice for Delhi in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. In four matches, Ishant picked up five wickets and he would be raring to go against the No. 4-ranked Test team in the world.
Saurashtra make Hazare quarters despite shock loss to Services
'Boy or girl': Neesham hilariously trolls Mayank on workout photo; he responds
‘He's like the modern-day hero’: Steve Waugh hails Kohli
'I thought India is bigger, better team than this, they don't need to be scared'
- "Should Test matches be played on such wickets? Not at all. A pitch where there is so much unreasonable turn, that a match gets finished in two days, is not good for Test cricket," Akhtar said on his YouTube channel.
Uttarakhand pip Assam to enter knockout round of Vijay Hazare Trophy
VVS Laxman explains why Ahmedabad pitch was 'not ideal Test match wicket'
'It's a good skill to have': Australia spinner 'loved watching' Axar Patel bowl
- India vs England: The Australia spinner admired Axar's performance and said he would be excited to play on sub-continent pitches.
IND vs ENG: Kohli & co. take to nets ahead of 4th Test in Ahmedabad - WATCH
Marcus Trescothick named England's batting coach
Shardul hits 92 off 57 balls as Mumbai trounce Himachal by 200 runs
_1614593653942_1614593659561.jpg "Shaheen Shah Afridi cleans up Babar Azam (L), Afridi hugs Azam (R)(HT Collage)")
Shaheen Shah Afridi hugs Babar Azam after knocking him over in style - WATCH
Abhishek surpasses Kohli, scores 2nd-fastest ton by Indian in List A cricket
Veteran cricketer and former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin picks his squad for World Cup 2019. In an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times, Azharuddin also praises former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and captain Virat Kohli on their different styles. Watch the video to know more.
Azharuddin bats for holding IPL matches in Hyderabad
Ajinkya Rahane 'stretching limits' in training ahead of final Test
- India vs England: Ajinkya Rahane is sweating it out at the training ground to ensure that he puts on a great show.
Gambhir picks between Ashwin and Harbhajan as India's best off-spinner
- India vs England: Unlike Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, there hasn't been much comparisons between R Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh, but if it was to be done, Gautam Gambhir knows his pick.