Even after playing 100 Tests, Ishant looked like a newcomer in WTC final: Sandhu

Ishant Sharma managed to pick three wickets in the first innings of the World Test Championship in Southampton but in the second innings, he remained largely ineffective. Former Indian pacer Balwinder Singh Sandhu minced no words while criticising the Indian bowling unit and expressed that the veteran pacer bowled like a ‘newcomer’.

“The Indians bowled short of length on Sunday but on Tuesday they pitched the ball up. You have to make them play off the front foot. The bowlers may be rusty but you take wickets by pitching it up and letting the batsmen drive off the front foot. Even after playing 100 Tests, Ishant looked like a newcomer to me. He should be leading the attack but Shami is doing that role. Bumrah, too, was disappointing with the ball not seaming,” Sandhu told Cricketnext.

On the other hand, Roger Binny stated that India needed someone who could seam the ball - something that New Zealand did effortlessly. 

“I think they did not pick the right bowling line-up. You have to have someone who seams the ball, do a little bit with the ball. That’s what New Zealand did. They are not quicks. They kept bowling the right line and length. You cannot get batsmen out at 90 and 100 speeds but with seam and swing,” Binny said.