Ishant Sharma on MS Dhoni: He saved me from getting dropped a few times

Ishant Sharma on MS Dhoni: The fast bowler eulogized about the legendary cricketer and hoped of making to the World Cup squad.

India fast bowler Ishant Sharma has become the latest cricketer to speak highly about former India captain and current wicket-keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni. In a recent interview, the 30-year old bowler revieled how Dhoni saved him from getting dropped.

“When I played under Mahi bhai, he always backed me. There were times that I was supposed to get dropped but I didn’t get dropped. You can see that kind of inputs he gives on fields that one needs to set.

“He is a great asset for the team. He helps the captain. He is a legend. You can’t express in words what he means to the team,” Ishant Sharma was quoted as saying by India Today.

Opening up on current skipper Virat Kohli, Sharma mentioned how Kohli motivates him to bowl extra overs in Test matches despite him running out of steam. “Now being the senior member of the team, Virat comes up to me and says ‘I know you are tired and fatigued, but as a senior member you have to do it for the team’,” Sharma said.

“Only wickets can change perception”

Barring former captain Kapil Dev and former pacer Zaheer Khan, Sharma is the only Indian seamer to play 90 Test matches. Having said that, he hasn’t been able to get the recognition of a 90-Test old cricketer.

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Much of that is also because of his 267 wickets coming at an average of 34.28, an economy rate of 3.19 and a strike rate of 64.4. When Sharma surpassed the 250-wicket barrier (in his 86th Test) against England last year, he was the second-slowest bowler (after South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis who achieved the feat in 127 matches) ever to do so.

It is his knack of continually bowling well without dismissing opposition batsmen which has made come face-to-face with criticism in his 12-year long career now. Sharma was firm in his words when he said that he wants to change the perception build around him by taking more wickets now.

“Earlier, I was just looking to bowl well but now I am looking to perform and want to take wickets. Only wickets can change perception. Yes, perception is a big part that players have been dealing with. I don’t know from where this comes from, I don’t think about too many things. I just take it as an opportunity,” Sharma said during his IPL franchise Delhi Capitals’ open media session in Delhi.

Ishant Sharma eyeing the fourth seamer’s spot in ODI squad

Sharma last played ODIs during India’s tour of Australia in 2016 and T20Is during Australia’s tour of India in 2013. Notwithstanding the long gap in him playing white-ball cricket, the lanky pacer admitted that he has eyes on the the vacant fourth seamer’s spot in the Indian squad ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

“There is always a hope. To be honest, I am a positive guy. This IPL, I am hopeful, will be good for me. The Indian team is looking for a fourth seamer and, hopefully, I will be that fourth seamer,” Sharma concluded.

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