IND vs SA Live: Will Ishant Sharma play? – In all probabilities, Ishant Sharma is set to be benched for Mohammed Siraj while Shardul Thakur is likely to play as an all-rounder. But captain Virat Kohli is giving it one last thought ahead of the Boxing Day Test. On Wednesday, Kohli had a special training session with Ishan keeping the lanky pacer game-ready and a final decision on his inclusion on the match-day. Follow India vs South Africa Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Apart from injuries, his recent performances haven’t been up to the mark. In the last two test matches, he returned empty-handed and wasn’t able to contain the scoring rate. After missing out on the second Test match against New Zealand at home owing to an injury, it raised speculations whether he will be picked for the South Africa tour. But Virat Kohli has entrusted the 105-Test match veteran.
IND vs SA LIVE: Virat Kohli takes special training session with Ishant Sharma ahead of Boxing Day Test – See Pics
Also Read: IND vs SA LIVE: Ashish Nehra picks Mohd Siraj as his third pacer for Boxing Day Test
On Wednesday, he made one more attempt. During India’s curtailed practice, he opted to bat against him at the nets. It was helpful for both. Not only a few good balls would have raised Ishant Sharma’s confidence but Virat Kohli would have had preparations against a tall fast bowler. As Kohli will be tackling South African pacers like Kagiso Rabada, Duanne Olivier, Lungi Ngidi amongst others, training with Ishant will be helpful.
IND vs SA LIVE: Virat Kohli takes special training session with Ishant Sharma ahead of Boxing Day Test – See Pics
However, it is unlikely that Ishant Sharma will have a place in the Playing XI. Even though he is the most experienced player in the team, in his last two matches, he has been a super flop. Against England in the 3rd Test, his bowling figures of the match read 0/92 while at home against New Zealand, he again returned empty-handed with 0/55 figures.
In fact, he has struggled in all of 2021. After struggling with injury in the Australia series, has only scalped 14 wickets in 8 matches. His main competitor in the team, Mohammed Siraj has bagged 33 wickets in 10 matches while Shardul Thakur has scalped 14 wickets in just three matches in the last 12 months.
IND vs SA LIVE: Virat Kohli takes special training session with Ishant Sharma ahead of Boxing Day Test – See Pics
Which players would you pick in India’s XI for the Boxing Day clash against South Africa?#SAvIND | #WTC23 pic.twitter.com/tWoBgb749i
— ICC (@ICC) December 23, 2021
Former India pacer Asish Nehra also batted for Mohammed Siraj ahead of Ishant Sharma in the Playing XI for the 1st Test.
“Look, I feel Bumrah and Shami are the two automatic choices in India’s pace attack. Talking of the third pacer, Mohammed Siraj could be the guy. Ishant Sharma was injured and left out of the second Test versus New Zealand (in Mumbai), while Siraj did fairly well in that game. It also depends on the team management’s thought process and game plan, and who’s looking sharper at nets,” Asish Nehra told Telegraph India.
IND vs SA LIVE: Virat Kohli takes special training session with Ishant Sharma ahead of Boxing Day Test – See Pics
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