Ishant Sharma's Finest Cricketing Performances: 7 Wickets at Lord's to 2010 Heroics with VVS Laxman

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Ishant Sharma has been one of the important players in the history of Indian cricket. He has had a remarkable career that has seen him ruffling some of the best batters in the world.

He was known for his towering height and potential to generate bounce and movement. The senior cricketer has been a standout performer for India over the years and left a great mark in both Test and limited-overs formats.

Ishant Sharma finished his career with 311 wickets in Tests, 115 wickets in ODIs, 8 wickets in T20Is and 92 wickets in IPL. Apart from his bowling credentials, he also hogged the limelight for a few of his crucial knocks. The Delhi-born turned 36 on September 2. Let's take a look at some of his best performances in his cricketing journey.

1. Seven-Wicket Haul vs England at Lord's

One of Ishant Sharma's most iconic performances came during the second Test of India's 2014 tour of England at the Home of Cricket, Lord's, in which India registered their first Test win at Lord's since 1986. Ishant delivered a fiery spell that totally dismantled the English batting line-up.

He ruffled the batters' feathers by taking 7 wickets in England's second innings. His use of the short ball was bang on target and the English batters ran short of ideas to his relentless barrage. His bowling spell played an important role in securing a 95-run victory for India.

2. Heroics with VVS Laxman against Australia

Ishant Sharma, who is primarily known for his bowling, chipped in with his gritty batting display alongside VVS Laxman in the 2010 Mohali Test against Australia. With India chasing a target of 216 and struggling at 124/8, Ishant joined hands with Laxman and fought back against the Aussies. Together, they mounted one of the best comebacks in the history of Test cricket.

Ishant showcased incredible resilience when he faced 92 balls for his 31 runs, which played a paramount role in helping India inch closer to the target. Though he was eventually dismissed, the epic partnership he formed with Laxman turned the match in India's favour.

3. Match-Winning Spell in Champions Trophy 2013 Final

In the 2013 Champions Trophy final against England, Ishant Sharma bowled a sterling spell under pressure. Defending a modest total of 130, the Delhi-born faced a tough challenge as England's batters seemed to be cruising towards the target. After conceding runs in his first three overs, he made a dramatic comeback.

In a single over, he got rid of the set batsmen Eoin Morgan (33) and Ravi Bopara (30) with two well-directed short balls, which turned the momentum back in India's favour. His crucial breakthroughs helped the Men in Blue secure a narrow 5-run victory in Birmingham.

4. Maiden Test Fifty in Kingston

Ishant Sharma may not be known for his batting prowess but let's not forget that he has delivered a few notable performances with the bat as well. Apart from his 2010 heroics with VVS Laxman, he hogged the limelight for scoring his maiden Test half-century against the West Indies in Kingston in 2019.

Batting at number eight, he scored a commendable 57 runs, hitting seven fours in the process. When Ishant played some stunning shots, the likes of Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara in the dressing room stood up and applauded him.

5. Five-Wicket Haul vs Kochi Tuskers

Ishant Sharma made a significant impact in the Indian Premier League (IPL), particularly during the 2011 season. Playing for the Deccan Chargers (now-defunct franchise), he produced a sensational performance against the Kochi Tuskers (now-defunct franchise).

Defending a modest total of 129, he kept the batters in check and registered 5/12. His devastating bowling rattled the opposition, and he was rightfully awarded the Player of the Match for his game-changing performance.

6. Match-Saving Spell vs KKR, IPL 2023

In IPL 2023, Ishant Sharma proved that age is just a number. Representing Delhi Capitals, he played a pivotal role in their first win of the season against Kolkata Knight Riders.

Despite being in the latter stages of his career, he delivered a masterful four-over spell, wherein he gave away only 19 runs and picked up the crucial wickets of Nitish Rana and Sunil Narine. His performance helped him earn the Player of the Match award.

7. Magical bowling spell to Ricky Ponting

At just 19 years old, Ishant Sharma made headlines with a breathtaking spell against Ricky Ponting, one of the greatest batters of all time. Facing Ponting at the WACA in Perth during the 2008 Test series was never going to be easy but Ishant kept troubling him with subtle bowling variations of tight line and length.

With Australia needing 413 runs to win the match and clinch the four-match series, Ishant delivered a sensational performance that left Australia's batting great, and the rest of the team, completely unsettled.

He relentlessly bowled a slew of fast, swinging deliveries that troubled Ponting time and again, before taking the prized wicket. This crucial breakthrough played a substantial role in India's 72-run win, setting the tone for the rest of the match.

His top-notch spell against Ponting earned him widespread praise, which kick-started the beginning of a promising career for the young bowler.