Veteran Ishant Sharma has been out of the white-ball setup of the Indian cricket team. He played his last One-Day International against Australia during the five-match series Down Under in 2016. Though his hopes to make a return in the ODIs are high and feel if he bowls well during the Indian Premier League, he has a chance to get picked as the fourth seamer for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in England and Wales.
Ishant has been a regular member of the Test squad and played a crucial role in India’s historic series win Down Under this January. He has represented India in 90 Test matches and took 267 wickets at an average of 34.
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Talking about his chances for the World Cup selection, Ishant quoted “Yes, perception is a big part that players have been dealing with. I don’t know from where this comes from, I don’t think about too many things. I just take it as an opportunity. And if I do well, I will be in a position to stake a claim in the World Cup squad.”
He compared the former Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni with his successor Virat Kohli. The veteran pacer revealed he got Dhoni’s back all the time and he saved him from getting dropped. While Kohli always looks towards him in the hour of need.
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“Mahi bhai saved me from getting dropped a few times. He backed me a lot. Yes, now being the senior member of the team Virat comes up to me and says ‘I know you are tired and fatigued, but as a senior member you have to do it for the team’,” Ishant was quoted as saying on India Today.
He further added “Earlier, I was just looking to bowl well but now I am looking to perform and want to take wickets. Only wickets can change perception.”
The Delhi-born cricketer will represent his home franchise Delhi Capitals for the first time in the history of IPL. Earlier, he has represented Kolkata Knight Riders, Rising Pune Supergiant, Kings XI Punjab and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the cash-rich league.
