Ishant Sharma, once a key player in the Indian cricket team, particularly in Test matches, experienced a downturn in his career in late 2021. While he played a crucial role in India’s triumph in the 2013 Champions Trophy, Ishant’s career took a downward trajectory due to injuries, resulting in a limited presence in international limited-overs cricket since 2016.
Although Ishant last played a Test match in November 2021, his last One Day International (ODI) appearance dates back to January 2016. He has only featured in 14 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), with his last match played in October 2013. The injuries also caused Ishant to miss the 2015 World Cup held in Australia. In a recent revelation, the 34-year-old fast bowler suggested that his efforts in the 2014 Melbourne Test may have played a role in his exclusion from that tournament.
During an interview with social media influencer Ranveer Allahbadia on YouTube, Ishant Sharma opened up about the challenges he faced. He shared, “My pain threshold is very high. I missed the 2015 World Cup because of this. We were playing a Test series in Australia, and it was Mahi bhai’s (MS Dhoni’s) last Test match when I suddenly experienced knee pain.”
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Continuing the account, Ishant Sharma explained, “Shami and Umesh were bowling, and Ashwin was the third bowler. I noticed that they were tired and thought, ‘How long can they continue bowling?’ So, I requested my physio, ‘Please call a doctor and give me an injection.'”
He further disclosed that he received injections during each session, totaling six injections over five sessions. His intention was to not let his team suffer due to his absence. However, this decision proved to be detrimental to his long-term fitness.
During that period, Duncan Fletcher served as the coach of the Indian team, and he advised Ishant against taking injections due to the upcoming World Cup. However, Ishant’s determination to contribute to the team led him to persist, stating, “I felt like I would be cheating the team if I didn’t bowl.” As a result, Mohit Sharma was announced as Ishant’s replacement in the 2015 World Cup squad.
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Unfortunately, India lost to hosts Australia by 95 runs in the semifinal in Sydney. Australia went on to win the tournament by defeating New Zealand in the final, securing their fifth World Cup title. Ishant Sharma’s sacrifice and his reflections on that challenging period shed light on the complexities and sacrifices often faced by professional cricketers.
