I want to be part of the World Cup winning team – Ishant Sharma

India’s Test specialist fast bowler Ishant Sharma has stated that he wants to be part of the World Cup winning team. Sharma is not a regular member of the limited overs side and played his last T20I back in 2013 whereas his last ODI match came back in 2016. The lanky pacer has been in sublime form in the last two years and wants to be part of the limited overs side.

Meanwhile, Ishant Sharma has taken giant strides in the last couple of years. The fast bowler’s County stint with Sussex has helped him take the right steps and he was able to tick the right boxes after Jason Gillespie provided him with inputs.

India’s pack leader has been at his best since 2018. Ishant has played 18 Test matches in the last two years in which he has snared 71 wickets at an impressive average of 19.14 and he has taken four five-wicket hauls. Hence, he is the most improved Indian bowler.

However, Ishant has played 80 ODI matches in which he has scalped 115 wickets at an average of 30.97. On the other hand, the Delhi pacer has taken eight wickets in 14 T20I matches. The tall fast bowler has also played 89 IPL matches in which he has snared 71 wickets. 

Ishant had played a crucial role in taking Delhi Capitals to the playoff stages in IPL 2019 as he had bagged 13 wickets in as many matches at an average of 26.84.

Ishant had played a key role in the 2013 Champions Trophy final against England when he dismissed Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara in quick succession to get India back into the contest.

“Obviously, I would love to play in a World Cup. Actually, I want to be part of a World Cup-winning team, as it will be a different feeling altogether. We are playing the World Test Championship, which is equivalent to a World Cup in Test cricket, but you realise that not a lot of people follow it, while an ODI World Cup is widely followed,” Ishant told Deep Dasgupta in a videocast hosted by ESPNcricinfo.

There is no doubt that it is not going to be easy for Ishant Sharma to break into the white-ball side as bowlers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami have sealed their places. 

Ishant is soon going to be 32 years old and it won’t be easy for him to play in all the three formats of the game.