Question Mark Over Ishant Sharma's Place In Test Team In The India Tour Of South Africa

Updated - 06 Dec 2021, 11:22 AM

Ishant Sharma (Image Credit: Twitter)

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Veteran Indian pacer Ishant Sharma is not having a very good run in recent times, he has not delivered great performances for India and as a result, he might lose a spot from the Indian playing XI.

Ishant is India’s second-highest wicket-taker among pacers in Test cricket and the expectations from him are as always high. However, the pacer has failed to match the expectations of management and with youngsters like Mohammed Siraj performing exceptionally in-home and away conditions, India might look forward to including the youngsters in the team.

Meanwhile, in the ongoing two-match Test series between India and New Zealand, Ishant Sharma was part of the playing XI in the first game at Green Park, Kanpur and he went wicketless in both innings of the match. During the match, he dislocated his left little finger and was not included in the playing XI in the Mumbai Test and Mohammed Siraj was added to the team who did an excellent job.

Ishant Sharma No Longer Automatic Pick In Test XI

According to the reports of the Indian Express, there is a big question mark over Ishant’s place in the Test team for the upcoming South Africa tour which has been delayed by a week. Also with Siraj delivering good performances consecutively, dropping him won’t be a good decision by the management.

So the two first-choice pacers of the Indian team will be Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma might no longer be considered an automatic pick and Siraj might take his spot.

Other than Ishan, vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane’s place in the Indian team is also under the clouds for the South Africa tour as he has been out of form for a very long time. A BCCI source has stated:

“He is going to South Africa but had he not got injured, there was a high chance of him getting dropped from the eleven. So, if he is not a sure-shot starter, how can he remain the deputy. If Rahane is removed from vice-captaincy, Rohit is the obvious choice. He was in fact vice-captain in the Australia Test series in the last two games.”

Other than that a big decision regarding Virat Kohli s captaincy in white-ball cricket will also be taken in South Africa tour. The BCCI official said:

“As of now, it looks difficult that Virat would be able to keep his ODI captaincy but since ODI isn’t important this year with very few matches here and there, one can think of delaying the decision.”

Also Read: Watch – Shakib Al Hasan Enjoys Himself In Rain, Dives Over Wet Covers After Stumps Called On Day 2 In Dhaka Test vs Pakistan

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