Ishant Sharma enjoying his responsibilities as a captain

His cricketing career has seen many ups and downs. Once a vital cogs of the Indian XI, he had to sit out of the team for a long time and see the youngsters slowly consolidate their position in the team. However, the lad from Delhi has got another opportunity to get his name enlisted in the selectors’ notebooks again, as he has been appointed as the skipper of the Delhi team.

Delhi are placed in Group A of the Ranji Trophy 2017-18, alongside Railways, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Hyderabad, Maharashtra and Karnataka. They will begin their campaign against Assam today (October 6) at their home ground Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi. The squad boasts of some famous names like Gautam Gambhir, Unmukt Chand, Rishabh Pant and Manan Sharma. Ishant is very optimistic about his side’s chances, but instead of thinking about lifting the trophy, he is taking one step at a time.

“The dressing room atmosphere is good. We have had good preparation. This is a good team with a lot of young players. But they have been around for three-four years now and they have the experience. Now is the time to take responsibility. It is a great responsibility. I would be responsible for the fielding changes and batting order,” the 29-year-old commented, as per reports in indiatoday.in.

“Success and failure are part and parcel of the game. It is the players, who fail and it is they only who succeed. It depends on how you can back them. They have my support. I am confident they would do well,” he further stated.

On being asked about whether shifting back to the general home-away format is a good thing or not, the tall and lanky pacer said, “If someone is a good cricketer, the pitch doesn’t matter. Both teams play on the same wicket. I believe, we will get good batting wickets and the batsmen need to apply themselves.”

Rishabh Pant will miss the first match

Delhi will miss the services of the young and talented wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant in the game against Assam, since Pant will be on his India A commitments. However, Ishant feels that the back up wicket-keeper, Anuj Rawat will fill up his place pretty well.

“We have a talented wicketkeeper in Anuj Rawat. He has done well at the U-19 level. Rishabh Pant is not available. Otherwise everyone is fit and in good shape. I am also fully fit,” said the owner of over 300 international wickets, prior to leading his state for the first time.