Ishant Sharma is Virat Kohli’s go-to-bowler in Test cricket, feels Steve Harmison

Indian fast bowlers are currently on a high after their sensational performance in the second Test match at the Lord’s Cricket Stadium. Led by Mohammed Siraj, who picked eight wickets in the match, the visitors bundled the home team out for just 120 inside 60 overs.

Former cricketers and experts lauded the performance of Siraj, but former England fast bowler Steve Harmison feels India skipper Virat Kohli’s go-to bowler is Ishant Sharma, rather than Jasprit Bumrah or Mohammed Shami. Harmison’s statement has some context as during the past two to three years, Kohli has mostly played Sharma in all the away Test matches.

In fact, the lanky bowler’s average improved in recent years and often, Kohli can be seen praising the senior bowler for giving him timely breakthroughs. Hence, Harmison feels Kohli’s main bowler is Sharma.

“You’ve got a tall bowler in Ishant who likes to get the ball going in naturally and, because he has such a nice seam position, he can at times roll his fingers a little bit and get the ball nip away. So that way he’s very very dangerous as you can be doubtful about where your off-stump is. That’s why he is Virat’s go-to man as he can give him a lot of overs,” Harmison told ESPNcricinfo

England announce squad for the third Test match

The third Test match between England and India will be played at Headingley from August 25. England have made a few tough calls as well as they have dropped Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley from the team and have included Dawid Malan. The southpaw last played a Test match in August 2018 against the same opponent.

Meanwhile, Mark Wood’s fitness will be monitored as the pacer injured his shoulder on day four of the Lord’s Test match. Wood is one of the main fast bowlers in the team and, he is role will be even more crucial in the remainder of the Tests as Stuart Broad has already been ruled out of the series. Meanwhile, Indian players are enjoying a nine-day break and are spending some valuable time with their loved ones.