ENG Vs IND 2018: Venkatesh Prasad Wants Ishant Sharma to Spearhead Team India Pace Attack

Former Team India fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad was one of the vital cogs in the Indian pace attack during the 1990’s. He played a crucial role in many overseas matches for his national side. But he is hopeful about certain things regarding Ishant Sharma.

However, Prasad never had the speed and the consistency of the modern generation bowlers. But he entered the honours board of Lord’s when he took five for 76 in only his second Test for the country in the 1996 series.

The veteran bowler following his retirement from the game has gone on to be the bowling coach of the national team. He is currently with the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Earlier, Prasad served as a coach of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) led by Virat Kohli.

Owing to the much-awaited contest, India is all set to take on England in a five-match Test series starting Wednesday (August 1st) in Birmingham.

India has a strong bowling line-up. They have 5 genuine fast bowlers in their ranks. Kuldeep Yadav will be the mystery man as he has always been in his short career so far.

It was during an exclusive interview with DNA, Prasad agreed to the fact that the current Indian pace brigade is simply brilliant. He further wants Ishant Sharma as the one to lead the pack.

“No doubt, it is brilliant. The current fast bowlers and also the upcoming ones are really good. Also, the fitness aspect of the fast bowlers is terrific. They are able to manage their fitness, manage their bowling loads. When we were playing, there was no such thing as bowling load. The same player bowling in matches also has to bowl three hours in the nets. But, things have changed. There is a lot of technology, a lot of management have come in terms of handling the players, especially the fast bowlers,” Prasad maintained.

The strain on the body is more, feels Venkatesh Prasad

With the IPL and playing in extreme heat in April and May, the strain on the body is expected more.

Considering all these, the fast bowling promise, the potential and the quality are definitely there. There is Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, of course.

“I would like to see Ishant be the lead fast bowler, not the second fiddle or the third pacer. Having played for so long, he did not stamp his authority. I hope this England tour could change his whole perspective and be the lead bowler,” Prasad said.

Venkatesh Prasad said that is the adaptability which has prevented Ishant Sharma from spearheading the pace attack of Team India.

“He has got everything that a fast bowler needs. He has got the height, pace and bounce. But, he is someone who has not adapted well to different conditions, venues and so on. He has probably stuck to the same back of a length, not using the conditions well. You need to change according to the condition,” Prasad remarked.

 

“Maybe on a seaming track, you need to pitch slightly more up. He is not a three-quarter length bowler, he is a back-of-length bowler. Normally, on a seaming track, even when you are bowling really well since you are bowling slightly back, you tend to miss the edges,” he added.

“The moment you try to look to pitch the ball up, you are a bit too full, which sits up for the batsman to drive. He was not able to get the length between the back of a length and fuller length,” Prasad further said.

 

“When I was the bowling coach of Indian team, that’s when he really came on to the scene, 2007-08. And, he worked extremely hard on his bowling. He worked on his seam position, the wrist position especially. He was someone who used to push the ball down the leg side. Obviously, we talked a lot about having the wrist and the fingers right behind the ball and releasing on the seam. He is an inswing bowler because of his open sort of action,” Prasad pointed.

 

“All I can say about Ishant is that he could not adapt. And that’s probably a reason why the captain could not think of playing him in the 11 consistently. If you are the lead bowler, no matter how the conditions are, how the pitch is, you are the first choice. But a lot of the times, he has been the second or the third choice,” Prasad stated.