Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeSportsCricketUnlike earlier times, we now have 8 to 9 quality fast bowlers:...

Unlike earlier times, we now have 8 to 9 quality fast bowlers: Ishant Sharma

- Advertisement -

Ishant Sharma AV

Kapil Dev, Javagal Srinath and Zaheer Khan were more like lone rangers during their best days but India now has a pool of eight to nine fast bowlers, which make them a formidable Test outfit, feels senior most speedster Ishant Sharma.

With 238 wickets in 82 Test matches, Ishant is the most capped player in the longest version and along with Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami would pose challenge for the likes of Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow when India face England in the upcoming five Test series, starting August 1.

“Everybody used to say that India can’t produce fast bowlers. Now we have probably eight to nine good fast bowlers, anytime who can play Test cricket for India. We have a pretty good chance to win a series in England and Australia, because of the kind of attack we have,” Ishant told agency in an interview.

In a lighter vein, Ishant said, “Whatever I choose is my choice, so I can’t really blame anyone why I didn’t become a spinner and why I’m a fast bowler,” Sharma jokes. “Fast bowling – obviously it’s a difficult thing to do, a lot of toll on your body. But it’s a really enjoyable thing as well. It tests your character, tests your strength. It’s really good for me to be a fast bowler. Even in India I’m still happy.”

Ishant played a massive role in India’s only Test victory during the 2014 series when he took 7 for 74 in the second innings at Lord’s.

“The weather is so nice (in England), you can bowl long spells, the conditions are helpful. The ball is nice, the wicket is favourable. There’s a lot of difference between bowling in England and India,” Ishant said.

Having been a part of Indian dressing room for a period of 11 years, Ishant has seen virtual transformation in training methods, a testimony to which is one of the fittest Indian teams of recent times.

“We have become so much fitter because there is so much knowledge, and there is so much contribution from everyone. If you want to play a good amount of cricket for the country, you need to work hard. You can’t just bowl or just bat. You need to go into the gym, go running, look after your recovery system, your diet and everything,” he said stating that it’s not just anymore about merely bowling his overs.

By his own admission, Ishant, who is now a month short of 30, has matured as a bowler from the time he first came into the Indian team.

“I’m not really the kind of guy who likes to give up on things, so I’m really hard on myself,” he says. “I’m the kind of a person, when the things are really tough I really want to take it on.” Sometimes he has to “keep on going till the time I don’t get what I want.”

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

Latest

Must Read

- Advertisement -

Related News