DUBAI // Once the big hope for India, Ishant Sharma has had plenty of disappointment since his sensational debut in 2008.
The disillusionment reached a peak last year when the speedster considered giving up on the 50-over game.
Ishant, 25, was deliberating on his one-day international future last October after being clobbered for 30 runs in the 48th over of the Mohali ODI by a rampaging James Faulkner. Those six balls turned the game around and Australia successfully chased India's 303 for nine with three balls to spare.
“It is very disappointing when you don’t do well, and the disappointment increases manifold when you are the reason your team lost,” Ishant said at the launch of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Indian Premier League seventh’s season campaign.
“I wanted to quit playing ODIs, but whenever I feel low, I turn to the one person I always turn to – my mother. She said to me, ‘cricket has always been your dream and you pursued it no matter what anyone else said, so one bad day should not make you give up’.
“Such support from your parents or friends gives you the much-needed confidence. Now, I am enjoying my cricket, which is more important. If you enjoy your cricket and express yourself on the field, you will do well.”
The pep talk from his mother worked and Ishant was the leader of India’s pace attack in the two Tests in New Zealand, picking up 15 wickets, including two six-wicket hauls.
That performance did not earn him an India berth for the Asia Cup and the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh, and Ishant was not happy to miss out. He has put that disappointment behind him though and is looking forward to the IPL, which starts in the UAE on Wednesday.
“Obviously, you feel bad when you are not part of the T20 World Cup,” he said. “It is a big tournament, but it is not in my hand.”
Sharing the new ball with South African ace Dale Steyn, Ishant was a success for the Sunrisers last season, taking 15 wickets from 16 matches to help his team qualify for the semis.
“Obviously, I am looking forward to do well in the new season,” Ishant said. “I am bowling well. I am in good rhythm. I played in domestic Twenty20, bowled well, took some wickets.
“I bowled well in South Africa and New Zealand, too. So I am confident with my bowling and, hopefully, I will do well for the Sunrisers this time as well.”
High in confidence, Ishant is not too worried about the unhelpful wickets he might encounter in the UAE.
“I think the wickets will be the same,” he said. “It does not matter whether you play in India or UAE, the wicket will be the same in Asia. You should know where you need to bowl in the T20 format. You don’t need to see how the wicket is going to behave. You just need to execute your plans well.”
arizvi@thenational.ae
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