Improved version of Ishant Sharma goes down well with skipper Dhoni

Not so long ago, Ishant Sharma was the best thing to have happened to Indian cricket in a long time.

Improved version of Ishant Sharma goes down well with skipper Dhoni

Not so long ago, Ishant Sharma was the best thing to have happened to Indian cricket in a long time.

Unfortunately, the honeymoon period didn't last long and spells like the ones he delivered on the 2007-08 tour to Australia disappeared.

His form dipped to such an extent that many started calling him a two-series wonder. Others meanwhile felt he was hyped a touch too much, too early.

But yesterday, Ishant showed glimpses of his old self with a decent spell against the Australians in the first ODI.

He was the pick of the Indian bowlers returning figures of 10-1-50-3 that restricted Australia to under 300.

"I thought he bowled really well today and hit the right areas," said Mahendra Singh Dhoni after India's four-run loss.

"He's just a bit low on confidence and that happens when you are 21 and have always seen success. So it's difficult to deal with failure. If Ishant's bowling well, his speed automatically goes up. That's when you know he is bowling in the right rhythm and the right frame of mind," Dhoni said, adding that everyone in the team is helping the youngster out.

"We have plenty of cricketers who have played more than 300 ODIs. When somebody is not doing well, we as friends and teammates want to back him. He's one of those guys who takes a lot of pressure when it comes to doing stuff in the nets. So, he's working hard and that's a good sign. You can't always control performance but you can always control the effort you put in," the skipper added.

Former Aussie pacer Michael Kasprowicz, who is in India on commentary duty, feels there's no need to worry about Ishant's form.

"There's no doubt that he's a fine bowler. It is just one of things that a modern day fast bowler who plays so much of cricket goes through. There's always going to be a dip in performance but that's not something to worry about. I thought he bowled pretty well today and his last over was a gem," Kasprowicz told
MiD DAY.

"Andy Bichel (former Aussie bowler) has been working with him during the IPL with the Kolkata Knight Riders and he told me that Ishant is a great prospect. I am pretty certain he will be back to his prime form real soon," Kasper added.

With Zaheer Khan still out, India badly needs Ishant to bowl at his best in the series. If he can take off from yesterday's performance and get back in form, the loss would surely hurt much less.

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