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Young World
Brilliant blue
NANDITA SRIDHAR
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Ishant and Rohit have brought to the Indian team talent and promise.
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Indian cricket, going through a transition phase, needs the services of these youngsters.
Photo: AP and AFP
Sharmas, two : Bright stars.
Ishant Sharma has been the find of the Australian tour. The 6’4” quick bowler, just 19, has probed and tested seasoned Aussie batsmen through the course of the Test and the one-day series. His remarkable performances prompted Steve Waugh into hailing him as the next best thing in Indian cricket.
Ishant’s rise has been rapid. He seriously took to the game as a 14-year-old, and managed a Ranji debut at the age of 18. His Test debut against Bangladesh was uneventful, after which a good performance in the Pakistan series earned him a spot in the team for the Australian tour. On the more charitable pitches Down Under, Ishant has been outstanding.
Australian captain Ricky Ponting has found it difficult to handle Ishant. “With the angles he creates he can be pretty dangerous against the left-handers as well and he swings the ball away from them,” he said.
Another star
If the Test series showcased the future of Indian fast bowling, the ODI series revealed a potential middle-order mainstay in Rohit Sharma. The 20-year-old Rohit was part of the squad that won the World Twenty20 Championship in South Africa last year, but had to wait for a regular spot in the one-day side.
The most telling aspect of Rohit’s batting has been his composure. His knocks in the T20 Championships offered glimpses of his repertoire. Ian Chappell has touted him as Sachin Tendulkar’s successor at No.4, and the shots he possesses promise plenty.
Indian cricket, going through a transition phase, needs the services of these youngsters. They have to be used well, and their longevity will only help India’s cause.
How Will they handle fame and pressure?
What remains to be seen, is how the two handle fame and the pressure of having to succeed consistently. Sky-high IPL bid amounts are potential threats that can alter perspective. Both are lucky to be playing under captains Anil Kumble and M.S. Dhoni in the Test and ODI sides respectively, but will have to keep their heads through the course of the next few months.
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