Former cricketer Deep Dasgupta feels that Ishant Sharma can be handy for Team India in the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town if Mohammed Siraj is not available as he can extract extra bounce and put pressure on batters.
Team India suffered a major blow during the recently concluded second Test against South Africa in Johannesburg as pacer Mohammed Siraj sustained a hamstring injury on Day 1.
He did bowl 16 overs in the match but his struggle was quite noticeable as he lacked pace and also looked ineffective. With Siraj sustaining an injury, he’s likely to miss the third Test against South Africa, which will take place in Cape Town on 11th January.
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Siraj’s absence is likely to make way for either of Ishant Sharma or Umesh Yadav in the series decider. Notably, Sharma played his last Test against New Zealand in Kanpur while Yadav last featured in Test for India against the same opponents in the second match in Mumbai.
Speaking to PTI, former Indian wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta said that Ishant Sharma could be more handy than Umesh Yadav because he's taller, can hit tougher lengths and keep the batters quiet for long periods.
He added that had Sharma played the second Test on a bowler-friendly track at the Wanderers, he could’ve done the same thing.
"I won't be able to say whether Kohli has the same faith in Ishant's abilities which he had till 2019. But even then in this game, Ishant, if played, could come in handy compared to Umesh. Firstly, with that height, he would hit tougher lengths, and secondly because of his ability to keep the batters quiet for long periods of time which unfortunately didn't happen on a bowler-friendly track at the Wanderers,” Deep Dasgupta said.
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Deep Dasgupta further pointed out that Ishant Sharma mostly bowls the fourth stump line, which can cut back enough to make the batters play. He added that before selection, the team management will check out the practice form.
"Also Ishant bowls that fourth stump line where the ball can straighten or cut back enough to make the batters play. But yes, the team management will check out their practice form too," he said.
The Test series between South Africa and India is leveled at 1-1. The visitors would be looking to bounce back after the 7-wicket loss in the second Test and clinch their first Test series in rainbow nation.
(PTI Inputs)
