Ishant Sharma – The Force Multiplier, a Bowler Beyond Stats

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the name – Ishant Sharma ?

If you’d ask me, it’d be a tall-lanky fella who once upon a time troubled the great Ricky Ponting in his den, took on the Proteas at home but then got lost in sea of way-ward and inconsistent bowler spells with a reputation of a rookie.

Also, then you Google his stats and they do not paint a rosy image either. 

Overall, 297 wickets in 97 Test matches with an average of 32.39 will never show the real deal.
The stats are clearly misleading. He is a way better bowler than that!

These numbers do not factor in the amount of effort he puts in to assist others. These stats surely do not incorporate the number of hours he creates to build the pressure in the opponent’s head by hitting the deck with his consistent and unplayable lines. It certainly does not include a KPI indicator that reflects his winning abilities as a conditions-agnostic spearhead of the Indian attack.

From his debut to July 2014, Ishant played 56 Test matches and just took 167 wickets at a poor average of 37.79 and economy of 3.13, respectively. To be honest, these are dismal, and the bowler should happily be termed a rookie.

With 50 Tests under his cap, he was in the list of bowlers with the worst averages ever. Also,
he is the second slowest bowler to get 250 Test wickets (86 Tests) after Kallis (127 Tests).

Not sure what transpired him to be a rocky from rookie. 2014 had something supernatural in store for him. It completely altered his spirits, demeanor, and the way he looked at the game. He did turn the tables!

Ishant Sharma’s raging spell against England at Lord’s in 2014. 7-74

Even though he never took wickets in bulk (mostly) but his record improved drastically by sending back the batters consistently and especially when the team needed breakthroughs. He became an asset to the team’s arsenal, someone the captain could bank upon at any point in time.

Post 2014, in just 41 Test matches, Ishant preyed 130 scalps at a bettered average and economy rates. Even all this still does not project his true abilities. You should have seen the intensity with which he ran, the aggression in his blood turned the tide for India at Lord’s in 2014 while he took 74 for 7.

There was no looking back from there. He has been bowling good lines and has been become a force multiplier for Bumrah, Shami, Umesh and Bhuvi on foreign tracks and is aiding Jaddu-Ashwin duo at home. He has mastered the art of grinding the opponents through his impeccable work ethics. His round the wicket tactics against the southpaws has done wonders to him.

He is the Roger Deakins of Cricket Cinematography. No one cares what he does, in fact they are not even supposed to know his contribution if it is a great film. We look at Bumrah in awe when he dismantles the timbers with his toe-crushers and Shami shows his magical tricks in the second innings with his reverse swinging cherries but it’s Ishant, who’s taking the bulk of the load and is running his own film in the background.

In 2015 when India toured Sri Lanka, his 8 wickets in the decider Test helped India win the series and the majestic spells in New Zealand, recently were treats for the eyeballs too. A special mention to captain Kohli for trusting in him and shaping him to the warhorse veteran (11 fifers, 1 10W hall) that he is now.

He can bowl under any conditions, give him any combination to play with; we will attack with his consistent lines & stealthy pace. Glad that he has been omitted from the scheme of things for LOIs as his lines only suit the Test format.

He has the second-best average amongst bowlers who have picked up at least 50 wickets in this timeframe (since 2018). In terms of strike rate, he betters the likes of Rabadas, Cummins, Bumrahs, Andersons and Boults of the world.

The 31 years old Delhi lad has age by his side. Another 5 years put to his game, the day is not so far when he would have 500+ wickets under his belt and legend prefixed to it; but I am sure Sharma jee does not care!

I guess all the Sharmas have the same fate; going a total transformation in the second leg of their careers (Rohit is a totally different batter in LOIs since the time he opened in champions trophy. Full Credits to Dhoni)

There is no greater joy than to overlook your own numbers & deliver it for the team and Ishant is donning that cape with utmost sincerity.

On a personal front Ishant is a humble & down to earth fellow, who values his parents & family culture and is quite candid. Refer to his episode on Breakfast with Champions to know more about the simplicity and authenticity of the champion bowler.  Meanwhile, let us pray Corona subsides and we get to see Ishant roar in Australia in December 2020.

Stats credits: ESPNCricinfo
Image Courtesy : BR

Jadeja Woo: Rise Above Hate!

Seems like a Deja-Vu? It surely does to me.
Many a times I have seen him pull blinders out of nowhere and go that extra mile for the team.

The frame is a testament of self-belief and rising beyond all the trolls & the hatred comments of “Sifarshi player/ CSK Quota/ Dhoni’s bootlicker” to being hailed as one of the greatest fielders of the game ever.

Ravindra Jadeja taking a peach of a catch in NZ

As a matter of fact, Ravindrasinh Anirudhsinh Jadeja features in my Indian playing XI; across all formats and conditions. I do not think apart from Kohli and Bumrah, any other makes it to the cut.

“Sir” Jadeja deserves the knighthood for his all-round abilities. He saves 15-20 odd runs in every inning through his fielding, bowls his quota of overs with strict economy that too quickly, saving the skipper from being penalized for overall slow over rate and is pretty handy with the bat; making him an impact player for the team.

Rising from the ashes, being born as a watchman’s son, Jadeja has defied all odds to be rightly hailed as India’s finest all-rounder; in the current times. 3 domestic triple tons, World’s #1 bowler in Tests in 2017 and the highest left arm wicket taker for India – these credentials are no joke!

Going back just a little, Jaddu had almost won the WC’19 Semifinal single handedly; a game, which was long lost initially. Did Jadeja Woo occurred to you?

If not, look at the catch again. Indians were thrashed badly against the Kiwis in the last tour. Out of nowhere this divine force pulled out a screamer and kept the spirit of the sinking ship alive.

Jaddu is a brand of Cricket on its own, synonymous to agility and adaptability, ready to defy the odds at any point of the game.

Jadeja has an uncanny ability to bowl at the same line and length for a long time and he can vary his pace without making many changes in the action which makes a difficult bowler to face. Along the likes of Ashwin, he is unmatchable at home!

Here are a few stats to Jaddu’s name, backing my hypothesis.

1. In 49 Tests, Jaddu has 213 scalps to his name, that too with an average of 24 (home average of 19 makes him to list of elites of the game)
2. In 161 ODI innings, Jaddu has 187 wickets in his kitty, with a miser economy rate of 4.8
3. As a Test batter, someone who bats at 7 down, he averages 35 and 14 fifties talk volumes.
4. In October 2019, Jadeja became the quickest left-arm bowler to reach 200 Test wickets (surpassing the likes of Heraths and Akrams). In fact, he was quickest to 150 as well.
5. In August 2013, he became the first Indian since Anil Kumble – in 1996 – to top the ICC ODI bowling rankings.
6. He’s the 3rd Indian Cricketer to score 2,000 runs and take 150 wickets in ODIs
7. Highest wicket taker in the Ranji season ’08-09
8. Only the third Indian to take six+ wickets in maiden innings outside India (6/38 against RSA)
9. Ravindra Jadeja now has scored 7 ODI fifties for India while batting at No. 7 (more than Kapil Dev)

So, stop making memes on him and rather go watch this catch again to reflect more on the greatness of this man or have a look at the celebratory swordsmanship and try to see the real warrior in him.

Stats Courtesy : ESPNCricinfo
Image : Hindustan Times