Ishant Sharma has a lot more to contribute.
It’s the era of gracefully aging athletes. They accepted their age and found methods to resist that good night; in their athletic middle age by postponing the inevitable vagaries of time; also they did not stop the clock, but ran alongside it; and also they accepted their age and found ways to reject that good night in their sports middle age. Ishant Sharma has a lot more to contribute.
Rafael Nadal beat a 25-year-old in a grueling five-setter for his record; 21st Grand Slam title last month, despite his ravaged 35-year-old physique. At 40, his great peer Roger Federer may still be fueled by the desire to catch Nadal. Meanwhile, in the hardest football league in the world, 37-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo; is pounding goals like a 17-year-old, just as Jimmy Anderson, who turns 40 this year, was tormenting batsme for fun last summer.
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So Ishant Sharma, the 33-year-old Indian pacer who was left out of the two-Test series; against Sri Lanka, doesn’t have to feel old. Or that, contrary to widespread belief, he would never be considered for Tests again. In certain circles, his omission is viewed as the equivalent of handing him his retirement papers. Not at all. Ishant might still be a major influence in Indian cricket. He had a couple of tough games, and there were young; fast bowlers ready to be trained, therefore he was dropped. A pragmatic, future-oriented judgment based on performance.
It should not be misunderstood that his services are no longer required by Indian cricket. Despite its increased fast-bowling riches and resources, India’s bowling team is lacking in experience. Mohammed Shami led the team with 57 caps, followed by Umesh Yadav with 52 and Jasprit Bumrah with 27. Shami and Yadav, respectively, will turn 32 and 35 this year. Despite their achievements, Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur are still in the early stages of their careers. Avesh Khan and Prasidh Krishna, the young duo, have also not played much first-class cricket. A couple of injuries, a terrible run of form, the need to rotate them, or a major series; and India might put their faith in Ishant with the new ball.
His experience and knowledge could be beneficial even if the majority of them were fit and available. He is a leader who has been missed in South Africa at times. And, of all the bowlers in the group, he appears to be the most natural; person to mentor the younger players as none of them have faced as much; criticism or mockery, had as many bad days or as many exit calls as Ishant has.
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Ishant could look to Anderson and Stuart Broad for inspiration. Anderson appeared to be fading in 2015, before masterfully adding more tools to his arsenal; including more frequent use of the leg-cutter, wobble-seamer, reverse movement from a good length; (as when he scythed through India at Chepauk last year), improved use of the old ball; and an absolute mastery on batsmen’s minds. The England veteran snatched 227 wickets at an average; of 21 after turning 33, compared to his pre-33 average of 29.
Curtly Ambrose played until he was 37, and Courtney Walsh until he was 39; and both were as sharp as they were in their late-20s, the considered pinnacle of fast bowling. Glenn McGrath continued to be the metronomic force he had been after his 33rd birthday; adding 141 more wickets at 22 to his tally. As a result, it’s very possible that Ishant not only makes a return; but also enjoys a productive late-career surge in the company of elegantly aging athletes.
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