Kapil Dev, Zaheer Khan and now Ishant Sharma. The 300-wicket club in Tests for Indian pacemen is elite in nature.
And when the lanky Ishant trapped Dan Lawrence leg-before on day four here, he had reached a significant milestone for an Indian paceman. The landmark reflects sweat, resilience and toil apart from longevity, ability to bounce back from injuries and deliver for his team consistently.
Bright start
Ishant is 32 now but was a lot younger when he made his Test debut as a tearaway against Bangladesh in 2007.
It is said the then Indian selection panel chief Dilip Vengsarkar had one look at him in a domestic game and was so impressed with Ishant’s speed and bounce that he soon included him in the Indian team.
When he began his career, the tall Ishant extracted lift with his high-arm action but primarily brought the ball into the right-hander. His fiery spell to Aussie legend Ricky Ponting in the Perth Test of 2008 is still remembered for its hostility and control. At the end of his burst, Ishant, undaunted by reputations, got his man.
In subsequent years Ishant was a regular feature in the Indian attack but without the sort of strike-rate that would take him a level higher. He was tending to be a tad shorter in length and did not have a potent away-going delivery.
There has been a remarkable change in Ishant in the last four years, though. He was now pitching the ball up and moving the ball away from the right-hander or getting it to straighten. Ishant’s bowling had gained the cutting edge.
During this period, his average is around 20 and he has been the senior man of a resurgent and potent Indian pace pack.
The ongoing match is Ishant’s 98th Test. His record reads: 101 wickets in 38 home Tests at 31.20 and 199 in 60 matches abroad at 32.88. A balanced record.
Ishant will reach another milestone soon. His 100th Test. He is contemporary Indian pace attack’s long-distance man.
