Ishant Sharma: India’s Mr. Consistent with the ball

These are exciting times to be a fast bowler in India. Never in their cricketing history have there been four frontline seam bowlers with the ability to take 20 wickets in almost all conditions and provide Virat Kohli with the opportunity to win matches all around the world.

Jasprit Bumrah has made the batsmen hop and jump and given the public watching, goosebumps through his bowling. Mohammed Shami has bowled with pace and delivered unforgettable balls worth remembering for years to come. Umesh Yadav has provided the spark to the attack at home.

But amidst all the euphoria, one man in this quartet has gone unnoticed and perhaps done the job that none of the other three could have done for the side. Ishant Sharma. He has given this attack consistency.

On many occasions, when the rest have picked up wickets, Ishant has played the role of building pressure at the other end- plugging away, joining dots after dots and bringing the scoring rate down to a trickle.

The miser who keeps chipping away

That aspect to his bowling has reflected in his economy rate. Between 2015 and 2019, Ishant went at an economy rate of 2.79. Compare this to the 3.40 that he went at between 2007 and 2014 and you get an understanding of the improvement he has brought to his bowling.

However, Ishant hasn't just kept it tight, he has contributed to the side with timely wickets at any given point in the match.

A stint with countryside Sussex in 2018 proved to be significant for the lanky pacer as he endured his best year as a fast bowler, claiming 41 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 21.80 and a strike-rate of 49.

It was, for the first time since 2011, that he had breached the 40-wicket mark in Test cricket. It was also the first time in his Test career that he had averaged under 25 runs per wicket in a season.

The road ahead

Ishant first played Test cricket for India in 2007, as an 18-year-old, who bowled plenty of no-balls initially. At 32, he still has a good couple of years in him to first become only the second Indian fast bowler after Kapil Dev to play 100 Test matches for India (he is on 97 currently) and then pick up as many wickets as possible.

He last played a game for India in coloured clothing in 2016 and considering how stable the fast bowling unit is for the Men In Blue in ODIs and T20Is, there is a chance he may not play another one in the foreseeable future.

However, playing just the one format could benefit Ishant as he could have more time to recuperate between Test matches, stay fully fit and help India win the World Test Championships if they make it to the final.

He does not have a 50-over World Cup medal to his name, but winning this competition would mean just as much to him.

If you believe Team India is gonna make it to the World Test Championship, you could head over to Betwinner and place your bets on the Men In Blue to come out victorious. The odds are definitely going to be in our favor!