3 reasons why Ishant Sharma can’t make a comeback in India’s Test team

Veteran Indian seamer Ishant Sharma was one of the best bowlers for India for more than a decade. Making his debut in 2007, Ishant went on to achieve fame during the Perth Test a year later, where he bowled a tremendous spell to get rid of Ricky Ponting. More success followed in the same tour of Australia as he clocked over 150 KPH on a consistent basis. 

After a slight dip in form, Ishant came back with a bang as he bowled a match-winning spell in 2014 in the Lord’s Test match. Sharma took 7/74 to help India win their first Test at the venue since 1986. MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli used the tall pacer to good effect as Ishant became the third pacer after Kapil Dev and Zaheer Khan to claim over 300 Test wickets for India. 

Prolonged bad form with the ball meant that Ishant was suddenly out of favor at the age of 33. Ishant had formed a famed quartet with Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah for five years. Ishant went wicketless in his final game in 2021 vs New Zealand.. The right-arm seamer has played 105 Tests, taking 311 wickets with 11 fifers and one ten-wicket haul. 

Here are the three reasons why Ishant Sharma cannot make a comeback to international cricket

3. Competition for places

The Indian team is filled with pace bowling options currently, which leaves Ishant Sharma facing a bleak prospect of an international return. Apart from Bumrah, Siraj, and Shami, Team India also has the likes of Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, and Prasidh Krishna in the wings. While Mayank and Umran have been laid low due to injuries, the other pacers are waiting for a chance to prove themselves at the international level, especially in the longest format.

2. Previous Injury record 

The right-handed pacer has been one of the few pacers who has been playing cricket for a long time, but there have been spells where his fitness has been under a cloud. Ishant has battled a variety of injuries over the years, and at 36 years old, yet another injury could be a career-ender. Ishant has also suffered various niggles during the course of his career and one such niggle was seen during the IPL 2025 season where Sharma walked off the field after bowling 3.2 overs.

1. Inconsistent form in recent times 

Many fans have loved seeing Ishant turn back the clock and bowl at close to 90 miles per hour in the IPL 2025 season. The right-arm pacer, though, has picked just four wickets this season and hasn’t been at his best with the ball. Sharma’s only hope of an India return is the red-ball format, but the pacer hasn’t played domestic cricket for Delhi since February 2024. Even in his final two seasons of Test cricket, Sharma managed to pick just 19 wickets from nine games with one fifer, which eventually led to his ouster from the side. 

Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.

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