At 32, Ishant Sharma isn’t the oldest member in the present Indian side, but he has played more test matches than anyone else. The fast bowler has been around forever. One remembers him as a lanky 19-year-old in 2007, who took the world by storm when he troubled the great Ricky Ponting.
In the early part of his career, Sharma largely played the supporting role to the team’s senior pacer Zaheer Khan. When he became the side’s senior paceman after Zak’s departure, many expressed doubt over his ability to lead the pace attack. For years, Ishant had donned the unflattering tag of a talent who hadn’t quite fulfilled his potential.
This has changed dramatically since 2018. In what is seen as a second wind to his long career, he has looked a bowler in much more control of his craft and has produced some of his finest performances during this period. Ishant has been at the helm of India’s recent fast bowling renaissance. Being the seasoned veteran to a pack of young fast bowlers, he has led from the front, bowling tirelessly and accurately. Since the start of 2018, he has picked 74 wickets at a mighty impressive average of 19.39 (the best among his teammates) and a strike rate of 42.80. To the Indian fan, the new Ishant has been a joy to watch.
On Monday, Ishant reached 300 test wickets when he trapped Dan Lawrence leg before wicket, becoming only the sixth Indian bowler and the third Indian pacer, after Kapil Dev and Zaheer Khan, to accomplish the feat. Here’s a look at the wishes he received on social media.
He never gives up, he never complains, he never lacks in intensity. Ishant Sharma is India’s most unassuming, unsung champion. Please stand up and applaud his 300 Test wickets. Nation needs to acknowledge and salute this soldier
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) February 8, 2021
300 wkts for Ishant Sharma! Have been following him since his debut against Bangladesh..It is ishant 2.0 I have enjoyed so much, i.e. Ishant Sharma from the Srilanka series 2015 to till date.. #INDvsENG
— Debashish Sarangi (@Plumb_infront) February 8, 2021
300* Test wkts for the largely-improved @ImIshant in his 98th Test. Superb achievement bowling mostly in hot, challenging subcontinent conditions & spin frndly tracks. Maintaining his fitness and desire this long. No mean feat for an Asian pace bowler👌👏#INDvsENG #IshantSharma
— Kaushik LM (@LMKMovieManiac) February 8, 2021
Ishant sharma, India’s workhorse from sensation to dependability. Joins the 300 club, wow! #INDvENG
— Ayushman Das🇮🇳 (@admani_18) February 8, 2021
300 wickets for an Indian fast bowler with the bulk of them coming at home! 😍 Ishant Sharma 👏🎉 #INDvENG #Ishant
— sivaprakash (@sivaprakash78) February 8, 2021
#300 for the Delhi pacer who runs in every ball as if it were his last chance to hold the red cherry. A workhorse, who has added a penetrative dimension to his game in the recent years! #INDvENG #IshantSharma
— Cricket With Ash (@CricketWithAsh) February 8, 2021
Ishant Sharma has been THE Most improved Test bowler since the start of the last decade.
300 Test wickets, battling with injuries and critics. A great achievement 💯— Vaibhav_MSDianForever (@V_Trips7781) February 8, 2021
300 Test Wickets for Ishant Sharma! Soon, he will be playing his 100th test too! His performances over the last 5 years have been exceptional. Very underrated by fans. Has been key in grooming Bumrah as a test bowler (JB himself said this). A modern day legend for India #INDvENG
— Viraj Bhatia (@virajb37) February 8, 2021
98 long tests for 300 wickets.
But held one end of Indian pace attack for last one decade when there has less assistance at home for pacers.
Legend.#IshantSharma#INDvsENG— H Anil (@CricketNchill) February 8, 2021
From being massively trolled on this app on 19th October 2013 because of that over in Mohali, to being celebrated & appreciated for the kind of Test bowler he has become, Ishant Sharma has come a long way.
Well deserved, 300 Test Wickets. Couldn’t be more happy for him#INDvsENG pic.twitter.com/LWq3L4UUXB
— Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) February 8, 2021
Congratulations on 300 test wickets to the workhorse of Indian cricket @ImIshant 👏👏 #INDvsENG pic.twitter.com/HuBLIOSK84
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) February 8, 2021
