Ishant Sharma 100 Tests: The Indian fast bowler will become only the 11th Indian cricketer to play 100 Test matches tomorrow.
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When India fast bowler Ishant Sharma will take the field in the third Test against England in Ahmedabad tomorrow, he will become only the 11th Indian cricketer to play his 100th Test match.
Sharma, 32, had made his Test debut against Bangladesh in 2007 and will become only the third specialist bowler after Anil Kumble (132) and Harbhajan Singh (103) to reach the milestone. Former India captain and legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev (131), who also bowled right-arm fast, has played the highest number of matches for an Indian pace-bowling cricketer.
Ishant Sharma 100 Tests
Since the start of Sharma’s Test career, only Stuart Broad (145) and James Anderson (142) are the two fast bowlers who have played more Tests than Sharma. Among all bowlers, Australia spinner Nathan Lyon (100) also joins the list.
Sharma, who has performed in patches in the format, is doubtlessly in the best phase of his career for the last few years have seen him trouble the opposition batsmen like never before.
As far as wickets in this period are concerned, Sharma is the ninth-highest wicket-taker with his 302 wickets coming at an average and strike rate of 32.22 and 60.9 respectively.
How many Indian cricketers have played 100 Test matches?
As mentioned above, a total of 10 Indian cricketers have played 100 Test matches till date. While Sharma will become the 11th tomorrow, former India captain Mohammed Azharuddin (99) narrowly missed out on the achievement.
| Player | Tests |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 200 |
| Rahul Dravid | 163 |
| VVS Laxman | 134 |
| Anil Kumble | 132 |
| Kapil Dev | 131 |
| Sunil Gavaskar | 125 |
| Dilip Vengsarkar | 116 |
| Sourav Ganguly | 113 |
| Harbhajan Singh | 103 |
| Virender Sehwag | 103 |
Keeping an injury or any other delay aside, India captain Virat Kohli should be the next Indian cricketer to reach the 100-Test mark. Kohli, who will be playing his 90th Test tomorrow, will equal former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni with respect to most Test matches as an Indian captain (60) in the fourth Test starting from March 4.
