Ishant Sharma’s Return Will Boost Indian Confidence: Sunil Gavaskar to NDTV

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Former skipper Sunil Gavaskar said Ishant Sharma’s return to the bowling attack against England in the fifth and final Test at The Oval will give India the much needed confidence.

India had stormed to a historic victory at Lord’s last month, after Ishant had wrecked England with career best figures of 7/74 at the Mecca of cricket. However, he was ruled out of the subsequent Tests in Southampton and Manchester, where the tourists lost to squander their 1-0 advantage. India now trail 1-2 and can at best only draw the series, if they win at The Oval.

India’s attack has lacked teeth in Ishant’s absence and his replacement Pankaj Singh has been ineffective despite working hard to get wickets. In such a situation, captain MS Dhoni has also struggled to identify a leader among his bowlers. Gavaskar felt the lanky pacer’s return will make a huge impact.

“Ishant was the one who destroyed England in the second innings (at Lord’s), and that too on a day when the pitch would have slowed down. The pitch (at Lord’s) would have been at its liveliest on Day 1 but on Days 4 and 5 it generally slows down and to destroy England then (was remarkable). Certainly India will feel that with Ishant back in the side, they have every hope of trying to level the series,” Gavaskar told NDTV on the eve of the series finale….

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