India pacer Ishant Sharma is keen to make an ODI comeback as he wants to be a part of the World Cup-winning team.
Ishant, who is one of India’s leading fast bowlers in Test cricket, last played an ODI in January 2016. He has featured in 80 games in the 50-over format, claiming 115 wickets at an average of 30.98.
"Obviously, I would love to play in a World Cup. Actually, I want to be part of a World Cup-winning team, as it will be a different feeling altogether. We are playing the World Test Championship, which is equivalent to a World Cup in Test cricket, but you realise that not a lot of people follow it, while an ODI World Cup is widely followed," Ishant told Deep Dasgupta in a videocast hosted by ESPNcricinfo.
The lanky speedster has appeared in 97 Tests so far, taking 297 scalps at an average of 32.39. He is just three wickets short from joining the 300-wicket club in the longest format, but the statistics are something that had never bothered him.
"MS Dhoni always backed me. Even after my first 50-60 Tests, he never said we'll look for someone to replace you. To tell you the truth, even after playing 97 Test, I still don't understand things like average and strike rate! I've never bothered about these things. If I'm not able to understand them, why should I rely on them? It's just a number after all," Ishant said.
"If I am bowling in India and the captain tells me to bowl in a way that I concede only 40 runs in 20 overs and that the spinners will take care of picking up wickets, that's what is important to me. It doesn't matter to me that my bowling average is around 37. My communication will be with my captain and that's why Dhoni backed me," he added.
Ishant Sharma was last seen in action during the Test series in New Zealand earlier this year. He will next play for the Delhi Capitals in the 13th edition of Indian Premier League, slated to be held in UAE from September 19 to November 10.
