The deadly COVID-19 outbreak has forced suspension of all on-field sporting activities. But off the field, while in isolation, cricketers are using social media to continue connecting with fans.

On Saturday (May 20), India pacer Ishant Sharma interacted with teammate Mayank Agarwal on the series 'Open Nets with Mayank' hosted by bcci.tv.

During the candid chat, Ishant revisited his ODI debut and revealed an interesting anecdote involving his shoes.

The lanky fast bowler said he was left without his shoes in his maiden ODI series and had to borrow a pair from Zaheer Khan to feature in the match.

Ishant made his ODI debut against South Africa at Belfast in 2007.

"It was so cold there. I was selected for the England Test series and not the ODI series in Ireland. I was chilling at home and then I got a call that you have that come to play ODIs in Ireland. I tell you my friend that it was so cold there, it was like ice for us. So many people including MS Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik, Robin Uthappa and RP Singh fell ill due to the change of weather conditions. At least, 7 people fell ill."

"I was waiting for my luggage and I called my manager. The manager said the luggage will come directly in your room, I was like 'woahh! we have this facility also, this is nice, in Ranji matches we carry it ourselves'. I was standing and then Rahul Dravid asked Ishant why are you not bowling. I nervously said him that I was waiting for my shoes and that shocked him. I explained him that I kept my luggage in the flight but hadn't reached me. Rahul Dravid asked me that how will I play the match tomorrow. I was shocked again. I borrowed shoes from Zaheer Khan and played my first ODI match," he recalled.

Ishant Sharma, who has taken 297 wickets in Test cricket, also has a fifty to his name in the longest format. The half-century came against West Indies in Kingston in 2019.

Reflecting on that knock, Ishant said his gloves got so wet during the innings that he had to replace them with KL Rahul's gloves.

"Leave everyone's reaction ask KL Rahul about his reaction. KL Rahul said if I would have scored 100 then he would have jumped from the balcony. KL scored some 25-26 runs and he said 'son if you scored more than me I will do this and that for you'. My batting gloves got wet for the 1st time. It was KL Rahul's gloves and he gave me pair of new gloves as well. He was like 'I should have batted with these gloves and then I could also have scored a fifty'."