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Ishant Sharma- The Blunt Spearhead

In Zaheer's absence, much of India's bowling in forthcoming season will rely on fragile shoulders of Ishant but experts differ on his ability to do so

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Ishant Sharma trains ahead of the series opener against Sri Lanka at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Friday
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For someone who made his international debut in early 2007 and still in business, Ishant Sharma has not justified himself at all. He ought to have taken the role of a leader of the Indian attack in the absence of Zaheer Khan. However, injuries and inconsistent form have kept the pacer out of the squad more often in recent times than in it.

Now that the 26-year-old Sharma is back in the ODI set up for the first three games against Sri Lanka, this opportunity is a make or break for the lanky speedster from Delhi. He would admit that he should have had more than 178 wickets in 58 Tests and a better economy rate than 5.72 from 72 ODIs, the last of which came in New Zealand early this year. Sharma has missed 17 ODIs since then.

At a time when India lack strike bowlers, on Sharma's shoulders lies the responsibility, what with the tour of Australia that includes four Tests, a tri-series and the World Cup coming up. Sharma had a memorable tri-series in Australia that India triumphed in 2007-08, himself scalping 14 wickets including two four-wicket hauls.

Sharma was at his best in India's miserable tour of England earlier this year, coming up with a match-winning show in the Lord's Test before injuring his leg and missing the third and fourth Tests. When Sharma returned for the final Test (August 15-17), his last competitive game, he was far from his best.

The selectors have now given Sharma a new lease of life. They may not have had any other option. Bhuvneshwar Kumar deserved a rest while Mohit Sharma, perhaps India's best in death overs at the moment, aggravated bilateral shin pain and was ruled out of the ODIs and in whose place Sharma has come.

It is important for Sharma not to shirk away from the responsibility as a senior bowler. Of course, with the ODIs likely to be played on flat pitches with a minimum of 300 runs to be scored, Sharma cannot be expected to come up with miserly figures. Sri Lankan batsmen will go after him as they would after the others in batting-friendly conditions.

However, it is here that Sharma's experience and seniority should come to the fore. How he handles the death overs is one that has to be seen.

Marvan Atapattu, Sri Lanka's head coach, said on Wednesday that the current-day batsman do not fear scoring seven or eight runs an over in the last 20 overs.

Former India all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar, while talking to dna on Friday, said that the captain cannot rely on spinners to bowl at the death.

"The main thing is how Ishant bowls in the slog overs. Not a single bowler is ready to bowl at the death. Spinners can do the job in the sub-continent because the wickets are rough and have turn, but what about in Australia and New Zealand? There, medium-pace will have to be strong," Prabhakar said.

With the long, grinding tour of Australia commencing soon, Sharma has found some support from legendary internationals. West Indies paceman-turned-commentator Michael Holding wrote in wisdenindia.com: "I have always thought Ishant Sharma could be a good bowler in this Indian team, whether in England or in Australia. But I have been hearing from the people that have been around the team that they think him too expensive. I'm not too sure.

"He is a wicket-taker. If he is a little bit expensive but takes wickets, that is still very important to the team. You need to be getting the top batsmen out, so you can put more pressure on the middle order. I'm not too sure of the theory about him being expensive, because if he is taking wickets then he is a good person to have in the team."

Former Australian captain Allan Border said at a conclave in New Delhi recently that Sharma "should be a key figure if he is not injured. He is a good bowler and will do well in Australian conditions".

However, Prabhakar made an observation about his former pupil. "I have seen him enough and he has not improved. Unless he knows how to control his left-arm (non-bowling arm), unless he is strong in his basics, he cannot survive. He has played enough international cricket to know where he is at fault. He is the bowling the same way like how he started his career in 2007," Prabhakar pointed out.

Should Sharma get the selectors' nod for Australia, how fit he remains will be the key. Prabhakar said: "It being a long tour, it is a question of who will survive and maintain fitness throughout. If Ishant is picked up for the four Tests, whether he survives for the ODIs is a question. It is here that the selectors and captain MS Dhoni should be cautious."

ISHANT IN NUMBERS
Format M Runs Wkts BBI BBM Econ SR 5w/10w
Tests 58 6542 178 7/74 10/108 3.35 6/1
ODIs 72 3207 102 4/38 4/38 5.72 0/0

DID YOU KNOW?
Ishant Sharma last played an ODI in January this year, against New Zealand. He has missed 17 ODIs since

Saha likely to play opener
Uncertainty over the availability of Wriddhiman Saha, who had a split webbing in his right hand, for the first ODI of the five-match series against Sri Lanka seems to be over as the wicket-keeper batsman looked fit ahead of the opener in Cuttack on Sunday. Saha batted for about 15 minutes in the nets on Friday and looked at ease. A team official later said the Bengal lad is "available" for the series opener.

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