Ishant Sharma clears fitness test; set to join team India in New Zealand ahead of the Test series

The senior India pacer Ishant Sharma has cleared the fitness ahead of the crucial two-match Test series against New Zealand. He had suffered a Grade 3 tear on his right ankle while playing for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy on January 20 and was advised rest for six weeks. However, thanks to his speedy recovery, the selectors had picked him in the 16-man squad subject to clearing the fitness and the lanky pacer has proved his fitness just in time.

Ishant himself took to Twitter to express his happiness after clearing the test and also thanked the head physio at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Ashish Kaushik for helping him to recover quickly. The 31-year-old also admitted that it was a roller coaster ride for him and was nervous after looking at the scans.

“It was a roller coaster ride for me after the injury on my ankle on the 20th January but with the help of Ashish Kaushik I managed to pull it off! Scans were a little scary, but today I am happy that I am fit! Thanks Ashish Kaushik!,” Ishant wrote in his tweet.

Here’s the tweet:

It was a roller coaster ride for me after the injury on my ankle on the 20th January but with the help of Ashish Kaushik I managed to pull it off! Scans were a little scary, but today I am happy that I am fit ! 🏏 Thanks Ashish Kaushik! #recoverymode #recovery #postinjury pic.twitter.com/xwNpecc0Iz

— Ishant Sharma (@ImIshant) February 15, 2020

Ishant to join Team India soon

Ishant Sharma is expected to join team India soon now having passed the fitness test. Even the sources in the know of developments confirmed the same. However, with Ishant only clearing fitness test and not proving match fitness, it remains to be seen if he will be picked in the playing XI for the first Test.

With the visiting Indian team in the middle of the only practice game which will end on Sunday, Ishant Sharma will not get a chance to prove his match fitness. The series is set to commence on February 21 at the Basin Reserve in Wellington while the second and final Test match will start on February 29 at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

Given that he is one of the senior and most experienced pacers in the bowling attack, Ishant Sharma getting fit is a huge thing for India and captain Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri will relish the fact that he is available to play.