Ishant Sharma: Indian Bowling’s New Pillar
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Other than that he bowled extremely well in the two Commonwealth Bank ODI’s, there’s another important reason why Ishant Sharma is important for India. His presence in the team has raised the average height of players. He and Pankaj Singh can help India shed off their “little boys” tag.
Ishant Sharma is a promising pacer, and he’s only 19. But he must understand that it takes 434 wickets to be a Kapil Dev and 23 years that go into clinching those wickets. He should also understand that anybody could have a series of their life and then disappear like a meteor in the night sky just like Narendra Hirwani. It’s also worth keeping in mind that sometimes you could be talented like Balaji and Ashish Nehra and still fizzle.
For the next three years, let’s:
1) Not Burden him with endorsements. Let him set himself up first and sweat it out on the fields.
2) Keep him away from the dazzle of Bollywood. Bollywood is the sweat poison of Indian cricket.
3) Make him strive for a spot in the team and not just gift it away just because he clicked in a few matches and seems like the next big thing in Indian bowling.
That and a few other things should possibly help him become a real match winner for India.
Just an aside: Since he’s laid the gauntlet down to the Aussies, it’s not going to be very easy for him in the series now.
Tags: ashish nehra, balaji, Commonwealth Bank Series, ishant sharma, kapil dev, narendra hirvaniRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Cricket, MeThinks, ODI Cricket
7 opinions for Ishant Sharma: Indian Bowling’s New Pillar
Biplob Kishore Deb
Feb 11, 2008 at 9:26 pm
You are right. He needs to be nurtured properly before becoming a reliable pacer for India. He has immense talent in him, but as you mentioned, there were many who had even more talent than Ishant Sharma, but failed to live up to the expectation. I support all the three points you mentioned to keep him in right shape for the well being of Indian cricket. People should not have loads of expectation from him, as he is still 19. Sometimes, cricket analysts and former players criticize the young players so badly that they lose the dream what they carried with them.
Ottayan
Feb 11, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Dinnie,
You have hit the nail on the head. Talent is not enough, it takes dedication and a lot of sacrifice.
However, from what little I have heard of him, he comes across as a level headed young lad.
Dinnie
Feb 12, 2008 at 7:47 am
@ Kishore
Agree on the criticizing part. Indian commentators can be too harsh sometimes.
@ Ottayan
Yes, he looks like a sound young person, but fame and bucks are great seducers, let’s not forget. Mohammed Kaif was level-headed, too, but something went wrong there.
Oh well.
John
Feb 14, 2008 at 11:27 am
Dinnie,
Thankfully, Ishant’s rise came at a time when Indian pacemen are falling over themselves to make the team. Ishant is one of two genuinely good right arm pacers, who have to fight three genuinely good left armers to constitute the three-pronged attack. None of the pacers can afford to take it easy.
Dinnie
Feb 14, 2008 at 11:52 am
Well said, John. He’s arrived at about the right time.
Bhoopalan Thaati
Feb 18, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Your article is so nicely presented and yes……. all those three points are true. But I believe…… he will set fast and rock in Indian bowling side, one day.
Dinnie
Feb 19, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Thanks Bhoopalan!
I’m just so, well, flattered!
And you might be right about Ishant, after all.
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