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Rediff.com  » Cricket » 'Ishant too erratic; never led from the front'

'Ishant too erratic; never led from the front'

Source: PTI
January 12, 2018 16:36 IST
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'In the last two series, he (Ishant) was acting very stupidly, reacting to the situations badly.'

Ishant Sharma

IMAGE: India fast bowler Ishant Sharma. Photograph: BCCI

Experienced seamer Ishant Sharma is too erratic and has failed to lead the country's pace bowling attack, feels former India pacer Raju Kulkarni.

"He (Ishant) 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 said in Mumbai on Thursday 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.

 

Kulkarni spoke on the sidelines of a function organised by Legends Club at the Cricket Club of India in Mumbai.

Ishant, who made his Test debut against Bangladesh in 2007, has grabbed 226 wickets in 79 Test matches. The Delhi pacer has also picked up 115 wickets in 80 ODIs.

"In the last two series, he (Ishant) 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 handed bowler said.

Kulkarni praised the present Indian attack but said their fitness is a matter of concern.

"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.

The fast bowlers had put India on a cusp of a famous win in the Cape Town Test but the batsmen faltered as the visitors slumped to a 72-run defeat giving South Africa a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

"Apart from that, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and all (others) are very talented and they have proved in the last Test match, given a wicket like that they can rip apart any team. The second innings was exceptionally well," Kulkarni signed off.

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