England vs India 2018: Ishant Sharma on Verge of Joining Elite Class of Bowlers

Team India speedster Ishant Sharma is on the verge of entering the elite list of fast bowlers. The Delhi fast bowler has taken 249 wickets in his Test career so far and is just a solitary wicket away from bagging his 250^th Test scalp.

However, the fact is that Ishant has taken 85 matches in achieving the feat. Going by the stats, Ishant took the most number of games by an Indian bowler to complete the 249-wicket feat.

He is the most experienced bowler among the Indian pacers. When he takes his 250^th wicket, Ishant will join the likes of Anil Kumble, Kapil Dev, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ravichandran Ashwin and Bishan Singh Bedi.

Ishant Sharma has taken 249 wickets at an unimpressive average of 35.16. He has never been consistent, as a fast bowler for India, and it reflects in his record.

Ishant has thus far taken 11 wickets in the ongoing Test series against England so far. He has bowled well and took a five-wicket haul in the 2^nd innings of the opening Test in Nottingham.

Ishant has breathed down the neck of all English left-handed batsmen and has been lethal with his line and length. However, his only drawback is that he cannot bowl the outswingers to right-handers and inswingers to left-handers. However, his line and length have brought about the downfall of the English batsmen in patches though.

Meanwhile, the five-match Test series is set up quite beautifully. England won the opening Test by 31 runs while they thrashed the visitors by an innings and 159 runs in the 2^nd Test at Lord’s. India bounced back strongly in the 3^rd Test in Nottingham, as they registered a comprehensive victory by 203 runs. It was an exceptional all-round performance by the visiting team.

The fourth Test will be played at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton from 30^th August. It will be an opportunity for India to make the series 2-2. It will also be an opportunity for Ishant Sharma to take his 250^th Test wicket and join the elite list of bowlers.