10 Amazing Facts about Ishant Sharma: Ishant Sharma, the lanky paceman from India was born on September 2, 1988. The 27-year-old is now the 4th highest wicket taker (200) in Tests for India among the pacers. This India’s pace spearhead has been successful mostly in overseas conditions and his recent fiery performance has proved it again.
Let’s have a look at some of the lesser known facts about the leader of Indian pace attack, Ishant Sharma.
1. Ishant Sharma is one of the tallest Indian cricketers. At 1.93 metres (6’4’’), he towers above his teammates. Abey Kuruvilla, at 6’6’’ is often recognized as the tallest Indian cricketer.
2. In the first edition of the Indian Premier League, Ishant was bought for $950,000 which was the highest amount paid for a bowler in the tournament. Ishant put in a good performance for India U-19 which earned him a place in the IPL team (Kolkata Knight Riders).
3. Ishant was a part of the India under-19 side for the tour of England in 2006. Interestingly, he made his Under-19 One-day and Test debut alongside Virat Kohli. And, the duo also made their First-Class and
Ranji Trophy debuts in the same match, which was against Tamil Nadu in the 2006-07 season. In the same game, Murali Vijay also made his Ranji Trophy debut for Tamil Nadu.
4. While most people consider Ricky Ponting to be Ishant’s “bunny”, that dubious distinction belongs to England captain Alastair Cook. Cook has been dismissed 9 times by Ishant across all formats of international cricket while both Ponting and Michael Clarke have been dismissed seven times.
5. During the tour to Australia in 2011-12, he bowled his fastest delivery-152.2 kmph during the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne. During India’s previous tour to Australia in 2007-08, he had touched 147, but he breached the 150-mark on this visit. There are reports of Javagal Srinath bowling at a faster pace, but Ishant’s delivery is one of the fastest bowled by an Indian.
6. Ishant’s role model is the great Aussie seamer Glenn McGrath. Much like how McGrath had the uncanny ability to pitch the ball in uncomfortable lines and lengths, Ishant also wants to emulate his idol and bowl accordingly.
7. Ishant is the only Indian pace bowler along with Kapil Dev to have picked up six or more wickets four times in an overseas Test match. While Kapil’s hauls came in Pakistan (2), one each in Australia and West Indies, Ishant has two such figures in New Zealand and one each in England and the West Indies.
8. Ishant is the only bowler to feature on both the list of “Best bowling figures” and “Most runs conceded” in the IPL. He bowled a fiery spell of 5-12 in just 3 overs against Kochi Tuskers Kerala but also conceded 66 runs in 4 overs against Chennai Super Kings. His inconsistency is one of the main reasons that he could not make a mark in the shorter formats.
9. Three of the highest individual scores ever made against India in Test matches (highest scores in this decade of international cricket) – Alistair Cook’s 294, Michael Clarke’s 329* and Brendon McCullum’s 302 – were all made after the batsmen were dropped by Ishant Sharma early in their innings.
10. Ishant Sharma starred in a record 81 runs partnership with VVS Laxman in the First Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2010-11 in Mohali, where India chased down a target of 216 after being 124/8. The partnership is still the highest 9th wicket partnership in a successful fourth innings chase in a Test match.
