He was leader of India’s pace attack in the Test series in Australia last year, where the visitors were commended for their competitive cricket. He had to head home early and miss out on the World Cup with an injury. He returned with the IPL and now Ishant Sharma is back in Team India for the solitary Test in Bangladesh.
Ready to operate with the red cherry again, Ishant is not letting the prospect of unresponsive pitches deter his enthusiasm. "I don't really look at the wicket to see if there is grass or it is a flat track,” Ishant said on the eve of the team’s departure.
“When you have a ball in hand it does not matter whether you bowl on turf or marble. You need to hit the right areas. We have certain plans according to the batsmen. We have to stick to it, set the fielding accordingly, keep doing your process and results will come."
The disappointment of missing out of the World Cup was bitter for the lanky fast bowler but he doesn’t think about it anymore.
"It was disappointing to miss the World Cup, but it is important to move on in life and think about what is next and hope I can now do well again for my country," the 26-year-old pacer said.
At a young age Ishant has seen more than his fair share of ups and downs in his cricketing career. He has been marred by injuries over the years but he is glad that he has the strength to come back each time.
"It shows how tough I am,” Ishant said of his comebacks. “I have been through a phase where I have been injured and dropped from the side. I made it till the World Cup and then got injured again.
"It all depends on how mentally tough I am and what do I want to do in life. It is important you set up a goal believe in yourself and do well for the country."
Although only 26, Ishant is the single-most experienced man in India’s fast bowling attack. He said he strives to be the senior partner to the likes of Umesh Yadav, Mohamad Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Varun Aaron that Zaheer Khan was to him. However, Ishant also stressed the importance of them learning certain things on their own.
"When I was playing with Zaheer, he was telling me what to do and that is exactly what I do now with Varun and Umesh. I tell them when the ball is reversing and what field to set. But apart from my experience there is no difference, they are almost the same age as I am so everyone needs to step up and deliver the goods.
"Learning by themselves would also help them in the long run instead of me going to them and saying what not to do," Ishant said.
