Ishant Sharma’s comeback in IPL 2023 has been exceptional, with him taking ten wickets in eight matches for Delhi Capitals at an average of 20.60 and an economy of 8.24. During the 28th match against Kolkata Knight Riders, Ishant’s impressive spell of 2/19 earned him the Player of the Match award, contributing to DC’s four-wicket victory. Throughout his career, Ishant has adapted and added new skills, including the knuckle ball, which he recently credited to advice he received from Jasprit Bumrah in 2018.
“I asked Jasprit Bumrah what he thought about my bowling in T20s during the Melbourne Test in 2018. He told me that I have a brilliant length, but I need to develop a slow seam delivery, which would deceive a batter. So thereafter, I worked on delivering the knuckleball,”
Ishant said.
During match 44 of the IPL, Ishant Sharma showcased his skills by dismissing Vijay Shankar and dismantling his stumps. Harsha Bhogle, impressed by the delivery, praised it and even watched it repeatedly. Ishant’s exceptional spell of 2/23 in four overs helped his team secure a five-run victory. Reflecting on his unsold stint in the 2022 IPL auction, Sharma mentioned that his dedication and passion for the game motivated him to train extensively.
I have not set any expectations for myself: Ishant Sharma
“I’m enjoying my cricket right now. I have not set any expectations for myself and I have nothing to lose. When I went unsold last year, my wife asked me to remind myself why I started playing cricket. Then, my love and passion for the game drove me to train really hard. I have also worked with a fast bowling coach and we spoke about the aspects I can improve on,”
Ishant added.
Following his unsold stint in the IPL 2022 mega auction, Sharma was eventually purchased by Delhi Capitals for INR 50 Lakh in the December 2022 mini-auction. Despite his impressive performance, the team’s poor campaign leaves them in last place on the points table, with 10 points from 13 matches. Their final match will be against Chennai Super Kings on May 20 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
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