Image Source : TWITTER/BCCI | GETTY IMAGES Virat Kohli and Ishant Sharma
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma showered reward on Ishant Sharma because the pacer is on the cusp of taking part in his one centesimal Test for India. The lanky pacer will hit the three-figure mark when India tackle England within the third Test on the newly-built Motera Stadium from Wednesday.
After Kapil Dev, he would be the second quick bowler to attain this feat in Indian cricket. Ishant had made his Test debut for India in 2007 on the tender of age 18 and has since come a great distance having established himself as an important a part of India’s red-ball contingent.
“I remember a tall lanky guy coming to the nets and trials. He pitched the ball in right areas and caused a lot of trouble to the batsmen and the selectors were immediately impressed,” mentioned Kohli within the video posted on BCCI’s official web site.
“He then started playing for the state team from that season onwards and we have been room partners since then. And we have been close friends ever since we started playing together. So Ishant playing 100 Tests is equally a happy moment for me. I wish him all the best,” he added.
“Big big congratulations on making it to the 100 Test match. It’s never easy for any cricketer. He has seen some tough times as well on the field but he has never given up. The Hall Mark of his entire career put into one shell this what is Ishant Sharma all about. He has reached a stage that we rely on him,” mentioned Rohit.
Cheteshwar Pujara mentioned that the ambiance within the dressing room is at all times full of life at any time when Ishant is round. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin recalled Ishant’s spell to Ricky Ponting when he had troubled the ex-Aussie skipper.
“Whenever Ishant is around, the dressing room atmosphere is always lively. He likes to talk with people around him. I have played against him many times and he has got me out once or twice. There were times when I wasn’t given out and he was frustrated,” mentioned Pujara.
“My first memory of Ishant has been the dismissal of Ricky Ponting. The way he was running with the big inswingers. All those fast bowlers who are watching must realise that Ishant is one of the most hard-working cricketers, and has made himself eligible to get to this point in the era of T20Is. If there is one person who deserves this feat, he is Ishant Sharma,” recalled Ashwin.
