Wasim Jaffer Thinks It Will Be Difficult For Ishant Sharma To Make It In India's Test Playing XI Again

Former Indian batter Wasim Jaffer feels that veteran pace bowler Ishant Sharma might not get another Test to play for India in another Test match.

Ishant has played 105 Test matches for India since his debut against Bangladesh in 2007, he has picked 311 Test wickets at an average of 32.41.

The 33-year-old bowler played his last Test against New Zealand in Kanpur before he was ruled out of the second Test in Mumbai as he dislocated his little finger on his left hand during the final day of the first Test.

It will be difficult for Ishant Sharma: Wasim Jaffer

Ishant is part of India’s Test squad against South Africa but didn’t play in any of the games in Centurion and Johannesburg.

As Mohammed Siraj is ruled out of the third Test owing to a hamstring injury, chances for Ishant and Umesh Yadav have opened up to be included in the playing XI of the Cape Town Test.

Jaffer feels it is going to be difficult for Ishant to get more matches as Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Shardul Thakur are delivering at their best.

“If Bumrah, Shami and Siraj are fit, they are the first three seamers. Then you have Shardul and Umesh. Shardul is an all-rounder now so that makes him choose ahead [of other bowlers]. So, definitely, for Ishant, it will be difficult,” Jaffer told Inside Sport.

“Obviously, when you are on long tours, the top seamers will be rested or the line-up will be rotated and probably then a place for Ishant will open up. In that case, he will play a few games,” he added.

Ishant Sharma will take a call about his future after the South Africa series: Wasim Jaffer

Ishant has been the part of India’s core bowling unit alongside Shami and Bumrah for the past three years.

Together they have found success in Australia in the 2018-19 tour and also were very close to winning a Test series in England. Jaffer is of the opinion that Ishant will take a call about his future of playing for India after the South Africa Test series.

“But I feel for somebody like Ishant Sharma, who has played over 100 Tests and taken over 300 wickets, I don’t think that is right. So, somewhere I feel he will take a call after the South Africa series. I am sure, he must be thinking about this too,” Jaffer mentioned.

India will play against South Africa in the third Test at the Newlands in Cape Town, the match begins on January 11 (Tuesday).

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