India’s veteran fast-bowler Ishant Sharma is too erratic and has failed to become India’s pace spearhead, feels former India pacer, Raju Kulkarni.

As quoted in PTI, Kulkarni said, “He (Ishant Sharma) has played 78 (79) Test matches, to play 78 (79) Test matches for India is amazing. But I don’t think he has ever led from the front and that has been a problem with him. He is too erratic, every-time he comes with new techniques, strategies, and that itself is very confusing for him.”

During a function organized by Legends Club at the Cricket Club of India, Kulkarni spoke about Sharma, who made his Test debut against Bangladesh in 2007, has scalped 226 wickets in 79 Test matches. He said, “In the last two series, he (Sharma) was acting very stupidly, reacting to the situations badly, and I think every time he comes out with something different and that is not making him very consistent.”

However, the former cricketer showered praises for Indian pace battery, he said, “The current scenario is very good as far as pace bowling is concerned. We have enough resources, enough good bowlers and they are very talented. The only problem for me is the fitness of the players, there is no continuity. You will always find three bowlers playing one Test match, maybe three-four Test matches, and then there will be a breakdown and that is an issue to be concerned about.”

Bowlers had almost helped India to register a win in the Cape Town Test but the batsmen floundered as the visitors slumped to a 72-run defeat giving South Africa a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Kulkarni concluded by talking about the same, he said, “Apart from that, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and all (others) are very talented and they have proved in the last Test match (against South Africa), given a wicket like that they can rip apart any team. The second innings was exceptionally well.”