Flat Ishant Sharma, a huge worry for India

A flat Ishant Sharma was a huge worry for India at Mohali

A flat Ishant Sharma was a huge worry for India at Mohali

Ishant Sharma's struggles in Chandigarh have been a painful reminder of the task youth faces as it tries to master a difficult game and at the same time, grow up in the spotlight.

His lacklustre performance put a heavy load on the remaining members of an undermanned attack and his team suffered the consequences on Day Two of the opening India vs Australia Test here on Saturday.

Most modern teams consider four bowlers sufficient, but that depends on all of them remaining fit and on song. As soon as one member of the quartet loses form or gets hurt, the strategy fails. Meanwhile, the tracks get tamer and the scoring rises. India might need to reconsider its policy.

Irfan Pathan's decline has been a heavy blow. Genuine all-rounders are precious. Of course, Ishant was not the only problem. Mahendra Singh Dhoni had another poor day behind the sticks and needs to sharpen his glovework.

In some respects, all forms of the game overlap; in other ways they diverge. Test cricket demands precise technique and intense concentration. Tactically too, Dhoni faltered. His reluctance to take the second new ball was surprising because only one wicket fell in 50 overs with the old one.

Still, Ishant was the main worry. After his spirited displays Down Under, the Australians had marked him down as a dangerman and so were both relieved and a little dismayed to see him sending down no-balls and powder-puff deliveries. Perhaps, it was just as well because Zaheer Khan was superb.

Toughie
No one could accuse Ishant of losing heart. By all accounts, he is a hard worker and he did not spare himself on a docile pitch. He has all the attributes, too, including height and hostility. Perhaps, he was nursing a sore ankle. Even so his lack of penetration was alarming.

But, then, he has experienced a lot in a short time. It'd be worth studying the careers of Pathan and Ishant the better to understand the challenges faced by the current generation of young cricketers.

Sometimes, it's not healthy to get too much too early. Ishant is famous, wealthy and inexperienced. Moreover, he is a fast bowler blessed with an ability he barely understands and burdened with a rhythm he cannot pin down. Lots of young cricketers endure ups and downs but its worse for pacemen. To lose a fraction is to lose the lot. It is a truth that haunts them.

Immaturity is part of the problem. Lifestyle is surely another factor. Rock stars rapidly enter the twilight world of agents, parties, wealth and appearances but they are not expected to bowl 20 overs at high pace to top-class batsmen on flat pitches. How is a lad from a humble background supposed t handle the sudden change? No book has been written about that.

Venkatesh Prasad's removal as bowling coach did not help. Australia, too, has an impressive array of young pacemen and will take care of them. Now, India faces the same challenge. Ishant does not need pampering but he does need mentoring. Otherwise he will not fulfil his potential, and that is a road paved with sorrow.