Former India fast bowler Raju Kulkarni admits tall and lanky fast bowler Ishant Sharma is too erratic and has failed to lead India’s pace bowling attack over the years.
“He (Ishant Sharma) has played 78 (79) Test matches, to play 78 (79) Test matches for India is amazing. But I don’t think he has ever led from the front, and that has been a problem with him,” Kulkarni said to the reporters in Mumbai.
“He is too erratic, every-time he comes with new techniques, strategies, and that itself is very confusing for him,” 55-year-old Kulkarni added.
Ishant, who made his Test debut in 2007 against Bangladesh has bagged 226 wickets in 79 Test matches.
“In the last two series, he (Ishant) was acting very stupidly, reacting to the situations badly, and I think every time he comes out with something different and that is not making him very consistent,” Kulkarni stated.
However, Kulkarni applauded the current bowling attack but admitted that fitness could be an issue.
“The current scenario is very good as far as pace bowling is concerned. We have enough resources, enough good bowlers and they are very talented. The only problem for me is the fitness of the players; there is no continuity.
“You will always find three bowlers playing one Test match, maybe three-four Test matches, and then there will be a breakdown, and that is an issue to be concerned about,” Kulkarni said further.
Bowlers put India ahead in the first Test; however, batsmen failed to chase the target as India lost by 72 runs.
“Apart from that, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and all (others) are very talented, and they have proved in the last Test match (against South Africa), given a wicket like that they can rip apart any team. The second innings was exceptionally well,” Kulkarni concluded.
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