India have one less problem going into the test series as their premium fast bowler Ishant Sharma has been declared fit who was earlier included in the test squad subject to fitness. The lanky pacer is all set to fly to Wellington and will join the team in a day’s time ahead of the massive test series that awaits India.
Roller coaster ride- Ishant Sharma
The veteran pacer who is 4 tests short of completing a milestone of 100 tests has tweeted that it was a roller coaster ride for him since he got injured on his ankle on 20th January. The Indian pace spearhead got injured while playing a Ranji trophy game for Delhi against the defending champions Vidarbha.
His injury was seen as a major setback for the Indian test team as India had less than 30 days for the litmus test in the New Zealand then. But it is all cleared now and the race horse Ishant Sharma is all set to be available for the test series which is a major boost for the Indian team.
Rare applause for NCA
The national cricket academy in Bengaluru which has been receiving lots of mixed comments for its treatment towards the players has now received a rare appreciation for its work from the pacer Ishant Sharma.
In his tweet, Ishant Sharma has thanked the NCA physio Ashish Kaushik for his help in making him to attain his full fitness after the injury in such a short span of time.
The NCA has been under the scanner in the last few months with Indian star players like Bumrah and Pandya fearing to go to NCA for rehabilitation because of its poor treatment to players, but Ishant applauding the NCA team will definitely be a sigh of relief for the academy.
India will face a full strength New Zealand in the test series unlike the ODIs and T20Is and it will be a closely fought and a high octane series for sure.
The 1st test is scheduled to take place on 21st February in Wellington