Ishant Sharma in Test Cricket has been a consistent leg for Team India for a long time. The veteran pacer is 96 Tests old and is on the verge of completing 300 career wickets. One of the most consistent and celebrated bowlers, Ishant’s wings grew largely since 2018 in terms of being more proactive in terms of picking up wickets.
Ishant Sharma in Test Cricket averages 32.68. One can say it’s a bit on the higher side. However, 2019 was terrific for the senior pacer, who claimed 25 wickets in six Tests at an average of 15.56. The Indian cricket team, which dominated the show this year, is blessed with a dream pace attack. The pack of pacers looks so settled in their quest for glory in the longest format.
Ishant Sharma has been the senior of the lot and boasts of leadership qualities. The 31-year-old enjoyed his best returns in the historic Day-Night Test against Bangladesh last week. India won that match by an innings and 46 runs. The win helped Virat Kohli’s men seal the two-match Test series by a 2-0 margin.
During the Test, Ishant Sharma notched the third-cheapest five-wicket haul by an Indian pacer in the longest format. Jasprit Bumrah (5/7 versus West Indies) and Javagal Srinath (6/21 versus South Africa) have produced better spells than the player.
Ishant Sharma went on to claim his second career fifer on home soil in the first innings and then picked up another four wickets to end with a total of nine scalps in the Test. The right-arm pacer, who made his debut in the senior team in 2007, has gone on to show his influence over the years. He has accounted for several dream spells in his career.
On the back of his recent exploits at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata with the pink ball, we look at the top bowling spells of the Ishant Sharma in his celebrated Test career.
Ishant Sharma claims career-best figures at Lord’s in 2014
This was one of the best shows from an Indian bowler away from home and a charged up Ishant Sharma was on top gear. During the Indian cricket team’s 2014 tour of England, the lanky pacer registered his best career Test figures in the second match at Lord’s. It was a slow start for the pacer.
He was unsuccessful in the first innings after registering figures of 0/61. However, in the second innings, his 7/74 floored the hosts. The pacer was all over the Englishmen, who didn’t have any answers to his offerings. England went on to lose the Test match by 95 runs with the fast bowler wiping out the middle order.
It was one Test match bowling spell that will forever be remembered. Batting first, India scored 295. England mustered 319. In reply, India amassed 342 runs in the second innings. Ishant’s heroics saw the hosts get bowled out for 223.
Ishant Sharma’s 6/51 versus New Zealand at Wellington in 2014
In February 2014, the Indian cricket team had floored New Zealand in the first innings of the second Test at Wellington. The Kiwis were stunned after folding for 192. It was Ishant’s magic that helped the visitors get hold of New Zealand. He was superb for Team India and claimed 6/51. He derived a lot of help from the conditions.
The main asset of the side got a valuable company in the form of Mohammed Shami (4/70) to wipe out the Kiwis. Team India went on to score 438 and had New Zealand at 94/5 in the second innings. However, the Test ended in a draw. Brendon McCullum’s magical triple century was the reason behind New Zealand’s major escape.
However, Ishant’s spell in another SENA country will rule hearts for a long time.
The start of the show: Ishant versus West Indies in 2011
This was a strong performance by the player away from home against West Indies in the early stages of his career. The second Test match against West Indies ended in a draw, however, Ishant Sharma dominated the headlines with a fiery spell of 6/55 at Bridgetown.
The visitors had managed 201 in the first innings and then bundled WI for a paltry 190. India scored 269/6 declared in the second innings. The match ended in a tense draw after WI hung on for a tense draw.
It was Ishant’s concentration that helped him negotiate his variations to perfection and got key scalps to get the Windies under the mat. In the second innings as well, the right-arm pacer continued in the same vein and claimed 4/53. His match figures of 10/108 remain the best show by him in a Test.
5/22 against Bangladesh with the pink ball a valiant effort
Ishant Sharma was on a roll last Friday to decimate Bangladesh, who were bowled out for 106 in 30.3 overs in the first innings. In this sorry batting show, the main damage was done by the Indian pacers who claimed all 10 scalps. The Indian pace-bowling unit bowled collectively and kept things simple.
The energy on the field by the Indians was too heavy for Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens. Ishant Sharma managed his pace well and Bangladesh failed to negotiate the moving pink ball. Bangladesh didn’t get behind the line of the ball to help the bowler run away with a valiant show.
And then in the second innings, he claimed four scalps with Umesh Yadav taking a fifer. India won the Test inside three days to cap off a remarkable result.
Frequently asked Questions
[sc_fs_multi_faq headline-0=”h2″ question-0=”Under whose captaincy Ishant Sharma in Test Cricket claimed his career-best figure?” answer-0=”Ishant Sharma claimed his career-best figures against England at Lords under the captaincy of MS Dhoni.” image-0=”” headline-1=”h2″ question-1=”When did Ishant Sharma made his test debut?” answer-1=”Ishant Sharma made his Test debut against Bangladesh at Shere Bangla National Stadium in 2007.” image-1=”” headline-2=”h2″ question-2=”When did Ishant Sharma got into limelight?” answer-2=”Ishant Sharma made his debut in 2007 but got into limelight when the young pacer from India bowled a fiery spell to the legendary batsman Ricky Pointing troubling him almost the entire tour.” image-2=”” headline-3=”h2″ question-3=”Is it true that Ishant Sharma took a 5-wicket hall after 12 years?” answer-3=”Ishant Sharma’s recent 5/22 against Bangladesh at the historic pink-ball test was his first 5-wicket hall on Indian soil after 12 years. ” image-3=”” count=”4″ html=”true” css_class=””]