India is going to miss the services of the leader of the pace attack Ishant Sharma in the Border-Gavaskar series, starting on December 17. The 32-year-old had sustained an abdominal muscle tear and managed to play only one game in IPL 2020 for Delhi Capitals.
The experienced speedster was supposed to play a big role in the four-match series like the tour in 2018-19. However, despite regaining full fitness, the NCA decided not to send him to Australia, as he had not gained match fitness to bowl 20 overs a day in Test matches.
Former India bowler Ajit Agarkar pointed out how MS Dhoni played a big role in Ishant's Test career.
“MS Dhoni, when he was captain, used him as that guy who just bowled a lot of overs in the day and then got a few wickets, and he had his main strike bowlers whom he kept rotating,” Agarkar told Sony Sports Network ahead of the first Test.
Ishant, who made his India debut with Test in 2007 against Bangladesh, has played 97 Tests. Agarkar is impressed with the way he managed his fitness throughout these years.
“Fitness is one of the things that has kept him in good stead throughout his career. Anyone who’s played over 90 Tests has to have good fitness. And his bowling started to improve, started to impress… one of the reasons was because he doesn’t play white-ball cricket, he’s always a lot fresher once he comes into a Test series. His bowling doesn’t fall as much when he’s tired. That’s why his lengths are better,” he said.
(With Sony Sports Network Inputs)
