A dark cloud of uncertainty hovers over Ishant Sharma’s future in Test cricket. The veteran seamer didn’t feature in any of the Tests that India played during their tour of South Africa in December-January. And now, it has emerged that the 33-year-old is “unreachable” as far as selection for the Ranji Trophy is concerned. According […]
A dark cloud of uncertainty hovers over Ishant Sharma’s future in Test cricket. The veteran seamer didn’t feature in any of the Tests that India played during their tour of South Africa in December-January. And now, it has emerged that the 33-year-old is “unreachable” as far as selection for the Ranji Trophy is concerned.
According to a report in the Times of India, Ishant has been unreachable to the Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) selectors even as they sit to try and pick a squad for the first-class leg of the domestic season, starting February 16.
With the league stage of the Ranji Trophy being held weeks before the home series against Sri Lanka, Ishant Sharma was expected to claim his return in the Test playing XI via strong performances for Delhi. But as it stands, the cricketer remains out of reach, with no communication about his availability.
“The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) has not received any sort of message from Ishant on his availability,” TOI reported. “DDCA waited to hear from Ishant till Wednesday afternoon before sitting down to pick the team which is scheduled to leave for Guwahati on Thursday (February 10) morning.”
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Has Ishant Sharma played his last Test for India?
The absence from the Ranji Trophy could prove a significant dent to Ishant Sharma’s chances of returning to the Test match XI, as indications are that the selectors and the team management are beginning to move past him.
TOI reported that Ishant, along with veteran wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha, have been told by the team management that their chances of future selection are bleak as the think-tank tries out younger options in the build-up to the next cycle of overseas tours in 2024-26.
Also Read: Has Ishant Sharma already played his last Test match for India?
“They have been told that the Indian team management is looking to groom the next line of players. Their chances of playing Tests would drop drastically,” a BCCI source privy to the matter was quoted as saying by TOI about Ishant and Saha, who is 37-year-old.
Both cricketers have been wonderful servants of the team but are approaching the twilight of their respective careers, especially Saha.
If Ishant Sharma does get sidelined from here on, it would bring to an end one of the significant careers in Test cricket for India. The right-arm seamer is among India’s most successful Test pacers with 311 wickets in 105 games at 32.40 per scalp.
TOI reported, in Ishant’s absence, India are keen to groom three bright young performers – Avesh Khan, Prasidh Krishna and Navdeep Saini – from their next batch of seamers as potential entrants to the senior pace lot that features Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur.
