Ishant Sharma
The rhythm bowler who reached 300 Test wickets and earned the nation's highest sports honors.
Ishant Sharma is an Indian cricketer born on September 2, 1988, who has represented India in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. Standing 6 ft 4 in tall, he operates as a right-arm fast-medium bowler known for prioritizing accuracy while still capable of bowling in excess of 150 km/h. In 2011, he achieved the distinction of becoming the fifth youngest player to take 100 Test wickets. While often labeled a 'rhythm' bowler, his pace has occasionally reached over 152 km/h, as seen in 2008. His career highlights include winning the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy and receiving the Arjuna Award from the Indian government in 2020 for his outstanding achievements.
- Role
- Fast Bowler
- Debut Season
- 2007
- Primary Skill
- Right-arm fast-medium bowling
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Sharma's domestic roots lie with Delhi, where he played first-class cricket. In just 14 matches, he claimed 68 wickets, including a notable five-wicket haul against Baroda on the opening day of a drawn match. His international journey began tentatively; after being called up for the 2006-07 South Africa tour at age 18, he was deselected before traveling. He finally debuted in May 2007 against Bangladesh as a replacement for Munaf Patel, bowling three overs without taking a wicket. A breakthrough came during Pakistan's tour of India in December 2007; with frontline pacers Zaheer Khan, RP Singh, and Sreesanth injured, Sharma was recalled for the third Test in Bangalore, where he took 5 wickets. This performance earned him a spot on the subsequent Australia tour.
In Their Own Story
The 2008 Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour of Australia tested Sharma's resolve. Left out of the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne, he returned for the second Test at the SCG in January to replace an injured Zaheer Khan. A controversial moment occurred when Steve Bucknor gave Andrew Symonds not out despite a clear nick to MS Dhoni off Ishant's bowling. However, his fortunes turned at Perth on the fourth day, where an exceptional spell dismissed Ricky Ponting, helping India claim victory by utilizing the WACA's pace and bounce. In Adelaide, he took two more wickets. The tour concluded with figures of 6/358 and an average of 59.66. Later that year, in February 2008, he delivered a Man-of-the-Match performance against Australia in the 4th ODI of the CB Series, taking 4/38. By 2011, he had cemented his legacy as the fifth youngest to reach 100 Test wickets and became the first Indian paceman since Kapil Dev (1983) to win Man-of-the-Series in a home Test series against Australia, finishing with 16 wickets.
Reader's Guide
Sharma's career is defined by resilience and statistical milestones. In the following match, he took three wickets to equal Kapil Dev's record for most wickets by an Indian bowler in England, finishing that series with 18 wickets as the second-highest taker. His milestone 300th Test wicket arrived in February 2021 against England at Motera Stadium, making him one of India's greatest pacers. He also reached 100 Test matches in that same series, becoming only the fourth Indian bowler to do so, with Kapil Dev being the only other fast bowler on that list. In ODIs, he faced challenges, including conceding 30 runs in a single over against Australia in 2013, equalling Yuvraj Singh's record for the most expensive over by an Indian. His domestic IPL journey began in 2008 when Kolkata Knight Riders bought him for $950,000, the highest bid for any bowler at the time.
Did You Know?
- Ishant Sharma was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for $950,000 in the 2008 IPL auction, the highest amount paid for any bowler at that time.
- He became the fifth youngest player to take 100 Test wickets in 2011.
- In August 2018, he equaled Kapil Dev's record for the most wickets taken by an Indian bowler in England.
- Sharma hit his first half-century in Test cricket batting at number nine against West Indies in August 2019.
- He was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2020 by the Indian government.