India vs England 2021: President Ramnath Kovind, HM Amit Shah Felicitate Ishant Sharma On His 100th Test

India pacer Ishant Sharma has turned 100 Test matches old when he took the field on Wednesday against England at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Ishant played his first Test in 2007; 14 years later he is donning the whites to the 100th time for his country.

Ahead of the start of the play on Wednesday, the lanky pacer was felicitated by Honourable President Shri Ram Nath Kovind and Honourable Home Minister, Amit Shah along with a few other dignitaries including the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Jay Shah.

The President awarded Ishant Sharma with a memento, and it was Amit Shah, who presented the Delhi-born seamer with his 100th Test cap in front of a half-capacity crowd at the Motera.

.@ImIshant was felicitated by the Honourable President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind & Honourable Home Minister of India Shri Amit Shah before the start of play here in Ahmedabad.@rashtrapatibhvn @AmitShah pic.twitter.com/7elMWDa9ye

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 24, 2021

Ishant Sharma becomes only the second Indian pacer to 100 Tests

Ishant Sharma becomes only the 11th pacer – 12th if you include Jaques Kallis – and only the second Indian seamer after Kapil Dev to feature in 100 Tests – that is a testament to the remarkable longevity of Ishant.

He started off as a long-haired young lad who bowled quick but was a bit, and more, wayward often. Indeed, it continued for about half of his career, where flashes of his brilliance were as conspicuous as his inconsistency in taking wickets; however, he always bowled long spells and did a thankless job in Asian conditions where he got little help from the pitch.

However, in recent years, he has become not only India’s but one of the premier bowlers in the world. He worked harder, changed his lengths, bowling angles, tried different things, and with some help from the fickle luck as well, Ishant averages 19.34 with the ball since the start of 2018- better than Pat Cummins, James Anderson, Jasprit Bumrah, better than any pacer but Jason Holder.

As far as the Indian team is concerned, with the series level at 1-1 after two Tests, they need to win the series by 2-1 or better – India cannot afford to lose any of the remaining two Tests – to qualify for the final of the World Test Championship. On the other hand, England should win both the Tests, while Australia are hoping for the series to be drawn or Joe Root’s side to take the series 2-1, but not better, to meet New Zealand in the final.

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