In a disappointing development for Team India, Jaydev Unadkat suffered a shoulder injury during a Lucknow Super Giants practice session during IPL 2023. Bowling in the nets before the game against the Regal Challengers Bangalore, Unadkat landed clumsily as his left foot stalled out in the rope that kept the nets up.
When Jaydev Unadkat fell on his bowling elbow, he injured his left shoulder. Due to the shoulder injury, the left-arm pacer has been ruled out of the remainder of IPL 2023. BCCI had before named him in the crew for the World Test Title Last against Australia, planned to occur in Southampton from June 7 onwards.
Even though the match is still one month away, Jaydev Unadkat’s fitness and availability for the big game are not 100% certain. The BCCI will need to select an injury replacement if Unadkat is unable to compete.
This year, fans of the Indian Premier League have been impressed by a number of pacers, one of whom is Ishant Sharma of the Delhi Capitals. In four matches so far this season, the tall pacer has taken six wickets.
If Jaydev Unadkat is ruled out of the WTC Final 2023, we will examine three reasons why Ishant should take his place in this list now.
#1 Ishant Sharma has tremendous experience of playing Test cricket in England
One of the significant justifications for why the BCCI ought to add Ishant Sharma to the Indian crew for the World Test Title Last is the experience that the speed bowler can add to the quick bowling unit. Throughout his Test career, Sharma has traveled to England multiple times.
He has taken 51 wickets in 15 Test matches in England. Even in his final Test in England, Sharma took five wickets at Lord’s to help India defeat England in an away Test. The BCCI might consider including him in the team due to his extensive experience and excellent record in England.
#2 Ishant Sharma as of late played red-ball cricket
A few fans might feel that drafting Sharma into the WTC Last crew in light of his great presentation in IPL could be a terrible choice, particularly as a substitution for Jaydev Unadkat, who has played a ton of red-ball cricket in the new past.
However, it should be noted by these fans that Sharma played for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy this past season. He played in the match against Maharashtra and bowled 20 overs in the main innings. In this frantic IPL season, the veteran player has also managed himself well.
#3 Sharma has a decent record against Australia in Tests
Sharma didn’t partake in the past two Line Gavaskar Prize series, yet the tall pacer has played 25 Test matches against Australia, scalping 59 wickets. He took 11 wickets in his last three matches against the Australians, which stands out.
In the most recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, Travis Head caused trouble for India, but in the three Tests that the pacer played in the 2018/19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, he lost his wicket to Sharma three times. If Jaydev Unadkat is ruled out of the WTC Final, Ishant should be considered a replacement due to his record against the Australians.