#NewsBytesExplainer: Is Ishant Sharma India's quintessential match-winner overseas?
Ishant Sharma burst on to the international circuit in 2007. His exploits against Australia during the 2007-08 tour down under kicked off his career. The wiry seamer became India's mainstay in the longest format thereafter. Stats suggest that he has been the unsung hero of Indian pace attack overseas. Let us list out the numbers which make him the greatest match-winner away from home.
India have won most SENA Tests with Ishant's presence
Ishant has been a part of 38 Tests played in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia), while India have won eight and lost 22 of them. Interestingly, the greatest Indian left-arm pacer Zaheer Khan has played 30 SENA Tests with India winning only five out of them. Besides, Kapil Dev has led India to three such victories in 35 Tests.
Ishant's contribution in SENA Tests as compared to former legends
India have won eight Tests (out of 45) in SENA countries since November 2007. They had the services of Ishant, who took 29 wickets in those eight matches. Notably, India have won one less SENA Test (7) in the presence of legends Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Sachin scored 644 runs in 12 innings with the latter tallying 731 in 13 innings.
The right-hander has made merry with the ball since 2015
The career of Ishant Sharma is meticulously split into two halves. He took his a maiden five-wicket haul against Pakistan (2007). The 31-year-old had to wait nearly five years for his next five-for (vs WI, 2011). Under MS Dhoni, Ishant claimed 102 scalps overseas at 37.62. However, the right-hander improved in Virat Kohli's captaincy, having snapped up 75 wickets at 23.58.
Ishant has reaped dividends in the last two years
Since 2018, Ishant has made a significant impact in the matches India won away from home, even more than the Indian skipper Virat Kohli. The former has scalped 24 wickets in six Tests at an average of 19.87. This tally includes best match figures of 8/74. Paradoxically, Kohli has scored 550 runs in as many Tests at 45.83 with a solitary hundred (vs ENG).
Ishant is the highest wicket-taker (seamers) in SENA countries
Ishant has a total number of 122 Test wickets to his name in South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia. He overtook Zaheer Khan's tally of 119 wickets to become the highest wicket-taker among the Indian pacers in SENA countries. Overall, the chart is led by former Indian spinner Anil Kumble, who owns a record 141 wickets.
