Reports: Ishant Sharma's place in the Test team in doubt ahead of South Africa tour

Ishant Sharma’s poor form in recent times has been a big point of discussion of late. Despite being India’s second-highest wicket-taker among pacers in Test cricket, he hasn’t quite put in the performances he was expected to. In the ongoing two-match series against New Zealand, the right-arm speedster has had his fair share of travails as well.

After going wicketless in the Kanpur Test, he missed the Mumbai Test after dislocating his left little finger. Since India’s tour of England earlier this year, Ishant has lost quite a bit of form. Mohammed Siraj was called upon to replace him in the playing eleven. The netizens reckon that the pacer should be given some rest going forward.

Ishant Sharma to get dropped?

As per reports in the Indian Express, Ishant’s place in the Test team for the South Africa tour is also under the clouds. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami seem to be the automatic picks and it will be tough to leave out an in-form Mohammed Siraj as well.

Umesh Yadav hasn’t been a regular member of India’s Test team, but on current form, he is in a better place than Ishant. If India go in with six fast bowlers for the South Africa tour, the likes of Prasidh Krishna and Avesh Khan are a few options.

Apart from Ishant, questions over vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane’s form have also been raised. If reports are to be believed, Rahane isn’t an automatic choice in India’s Test team anymore due to his poor run of form over the last 12 months or so.

“Obviously, he is going to South Africa but had he not got injured, there was a high chance of him getting dropped from the eleven. So, if he is not a sure-shot starter, how can he remain the deputy. If Rahane is removed from vice-captaincy, Rohit is the obvious choice. He was in fact vice-captain in Australia Test series in last two games,” a BCCI official said.

The Chetan Sharma-led selection panel may also take a call on Virat Kohli’s ODI captaincy. “As of now, it looks difficult that Virat would be able to keep his ODI captaincy but since ODI isn’t important this year with very few matches here and there, one can think of delaying the decision,” the official added.