Ishant Sharma has been struggling for fitness for quite some time now, but after regaining match sharpness, he is now ready to give New Zealand the scare.
There were question marks over the 96-Test veteran¡¯s availability, but having successfully?come through the fitness test last week, he is back in contention.?
Almost as if invigorated by the foray into Test cricket of Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant has been at his most incisive in the longer format since January 2018, when Bumrah made his five-day debut in South Africa.?
Ishant has picked up 66 wickets in 17 Tests from January 2018 onwards, at a stunning average of 19.43 and a strike-rate of 42.7, which is fractionally better than Bumrah¡¯s 43.7.?
Bumrah averages 19.24 per scalp courtesy 62 wickets from 12 matches. But staggeringly, while the younger quick has played exclusively overseas in South Africa, England, Australia and the West Indies, Ishant¡¯s last four Tests have been in India.
The Delhi pacer will now get another bite at the cherry. He has been phenomenal in the past seasons and will look to trouble the New Zealand batsmen - in conditions that will suit him.
He is back and he will be looking to continue his fine form and help his side to another series win. In the conditions that will be windy and the tracks will have plenty of bounce, Ishant Sharma will be a real threat.?