Ishant Sharma, the lanky fast bowler, is regarded as one of the talented fast bowlers to have played for the Indian cricket team, especially in the longest format of the game. Over the years, he has become an integral part of the Indian bowling attack. On Wednesday, the cricketer will be playing his 100th Test match. As the cricketer has achieved a milestone in his career, let’s take a look at some of the lesser-known facts about one of the most capped Indian bowlers in Tests.
Here, in this article, we bring you 10 lesser-known facts about Ishant Sharma. Have a look:
1. Ishant Sharma is one of the tallest cricketers in the world. With 6’4’, Ishant towers above his teammates.
2. Ishant started playing cricket only at the age of 14. He made his Ranji Trophy debut at the early age of 18-years for Delhi.
3. Ishant’s role model is the great Aussie seamer, Glenn McGrath.
4. During the first edition of the Indian Premier League, Ishant became the most expensive bowler as he was bought for $950,000. He was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders in the first edition of the IPL after his impressive performance for India U-19.
5. Recently, Virat Kohli revealed an incident from when the bowler got his first-ever call-up for the national team. He revealed:
“When he got selected for India, he was fast asleep in the afternoon and I had to kick him and wake him up to give him the news. That’s how far we go”
6. Ishant was a part of Team India’s under-19 side for the tour of England in 2006. Interestingly, Ishant made his Under-19 One-day and Test debut alongside Virat Kohli. Not just this, the duo made their first-class and Ranji Trophy debuts in the same match, which was against Tamil Nadu in the 2006-2007 season.
7. Ishant Sharma bowled his fastest delivery, which is 152.2 kmph during the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne of Australia’s tour in 2011-12. Ishant’s delivery is one of the fastest bowled by an Indian.
8. After Kapil Dev, Ishant Sharma is the only Indian bowler to have picked up six or more wickets four times during an overseas Test match. While Kapil Dev’s wickets-haul came in Pakistan (twice), Australia, and West Indies. On the other hand, Ishant was able to achieve this feat in New Zealand, England, and West Indies.
9. Ishant Sharma is the only bowler to feature on both the list of “Best bowling figures” and “Most runs conceded” in the history of the Indian Premier League. He bowled a magical spell of 5-12 in just 3 overs against Kochi Tuskers Kerala and also conceded 66 runs in 4 overs against CSK.
10. During the first test of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2010 at Mohali, Ishant Sharma played an instrumental role for his side’s victory on the final day of the Test match. Ishant walked-in to bat when team India were 8 down for 124 with 94 runs more to chase.
The only batsman who was present at the crease was VVS Laxman and the duo played courageously. Though Ishant is not a proper batsman but he scored 31 runs from 92 balls. Ishant got out at the score of 205 however he increased the chances of India’s victory. This partnership is still the highest 9th wicket partnership in a successful fourth-innings chase in the longest format of the game.
