SWOT Analysis of the Indian fast bowling unit for the tour to West Indies

Ishant Sharma:

We take Ishant Sharma’s name and are reminded of his magical spell of 7 for 74 at the Lord’s during India’s tour of England 2014. The spell was instrumental in ripping apart the England middle order and yet, Sharma’s injury prone body or physique couldn’t withstand the celebration perhaps and he was sidelined for the next two Tests in a series which India eventually lost.

Rewind to the time Sharma burst onto the scene and his spell against Ricky Ponting is the stuff of folklore for cricket enthusiasts. A few years down the line and a tired down Sharma failed to deliver the express pace he was known for. Lately though he seems to have revived his bowling and is regularly clocking the 140 kph mark.

This when the BCCI has trimmed down his annual itinerary and put him on the path of being a Test specialist per say. Sharma’s impressive showing in the Lord’s Test and the tour of Sri Lanka may be a sign of good things coming ahead for the lanky fast bowler.