SA vs IND 2018: Ishant Sharma is too erratic, says former pacer Raju Kulkarni

India lost the first Test by 72 runs.

Ishant Sharma is expected to play in Centurion. (Getty)

It was an impressive performance from the Indian bowling attack in Newlands but they couldn't  quite bowl India to victory. India missed a certain Ishant Sharma who will be handy on the bouncy Centurion track if he included in the lineup. 

Former Indian pacer Raju Kulkarni criticised Ishant for being too erratic and added that he has lost the spark over time. 

"He (Ishant Sharma) has played 78 (79) Test matches, to play 78 (79) Test matches for India is amazing. But I don't think he has ever led from the front and that has been a problem with him," Kulkarni told reporters here last night.

"He is too erratic, every-time he comes with new techniques, strategies, and that itself is very confusing for him," added the 55-year-old, who has played three Tests and 10 ODIs for India.

"In the last two series, he (Sharma) was acting very stupidly, reacting to the situations badly, and I think every time he comes out with something different and that is not making him very consistent," the 55-year-old former right arm bowler said.

"The current scenario is very good as far as pace bowling is concerned. We have enough resources, enough good bowlers and they are very talented. The only problem for me is the fitness of the players, there is no continuity.

"You will always find three bowlers playing one Test match, may be three-four Test matches, and then there will be a breakdown and that is an issue to be concerned about," he added.

With India losing the first test match and the bowling attack looking weak, Ishant just might make a comeback in Centurion. "Apart from that, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and all (others) are very talented and they have proved in the last Test match (against South Africa), given a wicket like that they can rip apart any team. The second innings was exceptionally well," Kulkarni signed off.

Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly earlier said that India ideally should go with the same XI in Centurion. 

 
 

By Anshuman Roy - 12 Jan, 2018

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