Overview
Ishant Sharma is an Indian international cricketer known primarily as a right-arm fast-medium bowler. Born in Delhi, he made his Test debut for India as a teenager and went on to become one of the most experienced pace bowlers in Indian cricket history, representing the national side across all three formats over more than a decade. He is particularly noted for his stamina, ability to extract bounce from his tall frame, and his role as a senior pacer in India's overseas Test campaigns.
Key Facts
| Full name | Ishant Sharma |
|---|---|
| Born | 2 September 1988, Delhi, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Role | Bowler |
| Bowling | Right-arm fast-medium |
| Batting | Right-handed |
| Domestic team | Delhi |
| Test debut | 2007, against Bangladesh |
| ODI debut | 2007 |
| T20I debut | 2008 |
Background
Ishant Sharma was born and raised in Delhi, where he came through the city's domestic cricket structure. He represented Delhi in age-group cricket and later in the Ranji Trophy, the premier first-class competition in India organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). His tall stature, which became a defining feature of his bowling, allowed him to generate steep bounce on a variety of surfaces.
Career
Early international career
Ishant was selected for the Indian senior team while still in his teens, making his Test debut in 2007. His breakthrough series came during India's tour of Australia in 2007–08, where his sustained spell to Ricky Ponting in Perth drew widespread attention and established him as a promising fast bowler at the international level.
Test cricket
Over the years, Ishant became a mainstay of India's pace attack in the longest format, appearing in more than 100 Test matches. He was part of Indian sides that played in major overseas series in Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, and the West Indies. He played a notable role in India's Test series win in Sri Lanka in 2015 and was a key bowler in the Test series victories in Australia (2018–19) and the home cycle of the ICC World Test Championship. His best Test bowling figures in an innings include a seven-wicket haul against England at Lord's in 2014, which contributed to one of India's celebrated overseas Test wins.
Limited-overs cricket
Ishant has played One Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals for India, though his career has been more strongly identified with the Test format in later years. He was a member of the Indian squad that won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013.
Indian Premier League
In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Ishant has represented several franchises over the course of his career, including the Kolkata Knight Riders, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Daredevils/Delhi Capitals, and the Kings XI Punjab, among others. He has typically been used as a new-ball and death-overs option in the tournament.
Domestic cricket
At the domestic level, Ishant has been a long-time member of the Delhi cricket team in the Ranji Trophy and other BCCI competitions, contributing as a senior pace bowler in the side.
Style and significance
Standing well above six feet tall, Ishant is known for using his height to extract bounce and movement, particularly with the older ball through reverse swing. He has often been deployed in long, attritional spells, especially in Test cricket, and is regarded as one of the most experienced Indian fast bowlers of his generation. His longevity in the Test side, coupled with appearances across multiple ICC events and overseas series, has made him an important figure in the development of Indian fast-bowling depth in the late 2000s and 2010s.
Related topics
- India national cricket team
- Board of Control for Cricket in India
- Delhi cricket team
- Ranji Trophy
- Indian Premier League
- ICC World Test Championship
- 2013 ICC Champions Trophy
References
- Wikidata entry: Q3522062
- Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) player records
- International Cricket Council (ICC) player profiles and match archives