Indian cricket has seen a significant transformation in fast bowling in the last decade, with Jasprit Bumrah taking center stage. Bumrah’s arrival in Test cricket notably strengthened Team India. Along with Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma made a crucial contribution to the Indian bowling attack, bringing both skill and experience. The tall Indian pacer launched his international career in style, and after years of experience, he injected renewed energy into India’s bowling. As Ishant prepares to turn 37 on September 2nd, his career is as memorable as his early years.
Ishant Sharma is from West Delhi, a region that has cultivated numerous Indian cricket stars. Players like Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli, and Shikhar Dhawan all hail from West Delhi. Ishant is among them, having secured a place in Team India. Like many, Ishant grew up in a middle-class family. His determination allowed him to overcome the struggles of domestic cricket and achieve recognition in international cricket.
While fans are generally well-informed about Ishant Sharma’s cricket career, less is known about his childhood. He too experienced the strictness of his parents, a common practice in Indian families, to encourage children to focus on academics or sports. Ishant also faced beatings from his father in his childhood. In an interview, Ishant shared an amusing incident about a time his father gave him a severe beating.
In an interview on Cricbuzz, with his wife Pratima and his parents, Ishant recalled an incident where he was beaten without any apparent reason. He explained that as soon as he entered the house, his father began beating him with a stick. Not only Ishant, but his sister also received the same treatment. His father was surprised, denying any knowledge of the event. He then suggested that Ishant must have done something to warrant the punishment. Ishant remains uncertain about the cause of the beating.
However, Ishant’s family was critical to his development as a cricketer. His father shared that he was also passionate about cricket during his youth and was one of the fastest bowlers in his neighborhood. This certainly played a role in Ishant’s path to becoming a fast bowler. Looking at Ishant’s career, he made his international debut in Test cricket in 2007 and gradually established himself in all three formats. For Team India, Ishant has taken 311 wickets in 105 Test matches, 115 wickets in 80 ODIs, and 8 wickets in 14 T20s.