Not Joe Root! Ishant Sharma names the toughest international batsman and the toughest young Indian batsman

Veteran Team India pacer Ishant Sharma has revealed his toughest opponents on the cricket field. Ishant picked Australian veteran Steven Smith as the most difficult batsman to bowl to in Test cricket and named Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal as the toughest among younger players to challenge with the ball.

The right-arm fast bowler made his mark in international cricket by challenging Australian great Ricky Ponting at just 19. Ishant took 311 wickets in 105 Tests at an average of 32.40, including 11 five-wicket hauls. The Delhi-born cricketer has not retired but has not represented the Indian team since 2021.

Ishant Sharma Names Steven Smith as the Toughest Batsman to Bowl to in Test Cricket

Speaking to Raj Shamani’s YouTube channel, Ishant Sharma named Steven Smith as the most challenging batsman to bowl to in Test cricket. He stated that Smith scores runs with an unconventional technique, making him a formidable opponent on the field.

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“Steve Smith in Test cricket. His technique is a bit different, and actually, with that technique, he scores runs. He is great,” Ishant told Raj Shamani.

During the 2017 Bengaluru Test against Australia, Ishant Sharma mocked Steve Smith by imitating his unusual facial expressions after a delivery, which left Virat Kohli and the Indian players in splits. India went on to secure a 75-run victory over Australia.

There Are So Many Strong Players in White-Ball Cricket - Ishant Sharma

When asked about tough opponents in white-ball cricket, the veteran pacer stated that there is immense talent in the format, naming legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Rohit Sharma.

“In white-ball cricket, there are so many strong players, yaar. If you try to count them on your fingers, you’ll run out of numbers. There are just that many," Ishant stated.

"You can start with Paaji (Sachin), take Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, then Viru Bhai, Gautam Bhai, AB de Villiers, Virat, Rohit… in white-ball cricket, the list never ends. And in white-ball cricket, there’s not much swing. Once the ball stops swinging, if you have skill and pace, you can still succeed; otherwise, it’s tough,” he added.

Ishant Sharma Names Yashasvi Jaiswal as the Toughest Young Batsman

Ishant Sharma picked Yashasvi Jaiswal as the most challenging young batsman to bowl to. The youngster has the talent and ability to trouble bowlers at the top level.

Yashasvi Jaiswal was left out of India’s squad for the Asia Cup 2025 despite being one of the country’s brightest young batting talents. Shubman Gill returned to the T20I squad, which led to his exclusion from the format.

The left-handed opener has scored 723 runs in 23 T20Is at an average of 36.15 and a strike rate of 164.31, including one century and five half-centuries. He also had an impressive IPL 2025 campaign, scoring 559 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 159.71.

Jaiswal is now set to return to international cricket in the upcoming two-match Test series against the West Indies, starting on October 2 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Also read: Watch: Viral video shows Rinku Singh stopping Shubman Gill from assaulting Haris Rauf after Abhishek Sharma spat