Sickness Ruled Out Ishant Sharma from the First Test: Reports

Indian cricket team was all set to unleash it’s most experienced bowler, Ishant Sharma, on South African batsmen but he was unwell on the morning of the game, the reason behind him not featuring in the first Test, a report in TOI suggests.

He was suffering from a severe headache, the reason why he did not get a game.

Ishant though had not performed the role of India’s prime pacer in the 2016/17 home season and also during recent Test series against Sri Lanka, but once Bhuvneshwar Kumar asked for rest, Ishant grabbed the chance and became the top-most choice of the team.

Looking at Ishant ‘s record outside Asia, he was undoubtedly expected to lead the pace attack and him being benched for the first Test came as a surprise, the reason for which now has come out. Looking at the performance of bowlers in the first Test, both Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are expected to retain their place in the playing XI while Mohammed Shami is scheduled to make way for Ishant Sharma, the most experienced pacer. Shami though took four wickets in the game, but his three wickets came on day four after the rain had done its work on day three. The moisture on the pitch aided pacer on day four, and a total of 18 wickets fell on day four.

South Africa successfully defended a mere total of 208 to hand India a defeat which will continue to haunt them as it was one of lowest totals and the side had a golden opportunity to chase it down and start the tour on a winning note, but the visitors squandered the opportunity, to suffer a defeat.

The second Test of the series starts on January 13. Team India will have to ensure that they do not lose this Test as a defeat in this game will automatically mean that team India would lose the first leg of foreign tours.

Follow India’s tour to South Africa here:South Africa Vs India – Freedom Series

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