September 2, 1988- birthday of Indian pacer Ishant Sharma, who was once considered the successor of Zaheer Khan. The 6 ft 4 inch tall bowler with long hair and smooth bowling action was meant to be a fast bowler who played over 100 Test matches for team India.

After making a Test debut in May 2007, Sharma quickly became a sensation in the world of cricket. From late 2007 to 2008, Ishant bowled promisingly, especially against Australia. His first Test 5-wicket haul was against Pakistan in Bengaluru, and then he claimed another 5-wicket stat during a game against South Africa. Three matches later, Ishant captured 7 wickets in Bengaluru; this time the victim was the Australia cricket team.

But somehow, the pacer couldn't hold his momentum and started to drop form along with bowling speed. The right-handed pacer's career graph barely remained on the summit according to his potential. With lots of ups and downs, he again and again repackaged himself and delivered on pitch. When he completed 50 tests in early 2013, he had among the worst averages for bowlers with 50 test caps to their name, but the following year he was instrumental in India's famous Test win at Lord's, taking a career-best 7 for 74 in the match.

Read More: 'Neither the strike rate nor the average looks very good...'- Former India cricketer's strong statements on star cricketer Ahead of Asia Cup 2025

He could have offer more

The fast bowlers' last few Test matches with India against New Zealand and England were full of disappointments. Ishant played his last Test match on November 25, 2021. A year later, he was an important figure in demolishing Sri Lanka in their homeland. 

In 105 tests, Ishant Sharma picked up 311 wickets, and in 80 ODIs, he took 115 scalps at an economy rate of 5.72, while in 14 T20Is, he got only 8 wickets. 

Ishant Sharma and Virat Kohli have played a lot of cricket together for team India. Not only the international cricket, both the players take back their friendship back to Delhi days where they player for the Union Territory together. Subsequently, the duo have lot of stories to share to their fans about the camaraderie, one addition to the folklore came in the recent edition of IPL.

Ishant playing for Delhi was bowling to Virat Kohli of Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Virat had hit back to back sixes to Ishant and followed it up with a cheeky smile. But it was now turn of Ishant to give back and he did so as Virat nicked the next ball to the wicketkeeper’s gloves. What followed next was an absolute example of friends teasing each other.

"When Virat Kohli hit a six at me, it was a very good ball, but only Virat could have hit a six on that. Then he hit six again, and after that, I got him out & I tease him. Then we both laughed about it. But that's the friendship and love between us,” said Ishant.

See Also: "Mohammed Siraj did it but..."- Former India star comments on Jasprit Bumrah's criticism after ENG vs IND 2025 Test series

RCB end 18 year drought with trophy win

Though Delhi failed to reach the playoffs of the Indian Premier League 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru were on song in the season. They almost outclassed every team and reached the finals of the tournament to face the Punjab Kings. They eventually won the finals by 6 runs and lifted their maiden IPL trophy and ended the drought of 18 years.

Jasprit Bumrah, the world’s No. 1 Test bowler, is once again leading India’s bowling attack in the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford. On Day 3, he got his first wicket by dismissing Jamie Smith, who was looking dangerous. Smith edged the ball to keeper Dhruv Jurel, who took a clean catch.

With that wicket, Bumrah created history. He is now the first Indian bowler to take 50 Test wickets in England against the home team. This is just his 1th Test in England, making the achievement even more special.

Bumrah now has his eyes on Ishant Sharma’s record of 51 Test wickets in England. If he takes two more wickets in this match, he will go past Ishant and become India’s most successful Test bowler on English soil. That’s not all. Bumrah could also become the top Asian bowler in England. Right now, that record is held by Pakistan legend Wasim Akram, who took 53 wickets in England. Bumrah needs just four more wickets to beat that mark.

There’s one more big milestone waiting. If Bumrah takes another five-wicket haul in this match, he will have 12 five-wicket hauls in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia). That would break Wasim Akram’s record of 11. With two five-wicket hauls already in this series, Bumrah has a golden chance to create more history and show why he’s one of the best fast bowlers in the world today.

ALSO READ: Joe Root Breaks Don Bradman's Record, Proves He's One of the Greatest in Test History

 Most Test Wickets for India Against England (England)

Short inlength, aggressive, on the body. Ishant Sharma delivered one of the most memorable spells as a fast bowler in the history of India's Test cricket. Ishant's 7-wicket haul destroyed Alastair Cook's struggling England and broke the jinx at the Lord's cricket ground.

July 21, 2014 marked the end of 28 years of waiting for Team India. After 1986, the men in the Blue Brigade pulled off a stunning victory at the 'home of cricket' and their first away win in three years. The tall India pacer's 7 for 74 encouraged India to a 95-run win.

England, well positioned, chose to play one after another reckless shots, which caused them to lose a series of wickets, and in the end, all wickets were down. From 173 for 4 to 223 all out, England's batting explained how senseless batting could drain all the auspicious possibilities.

Read More: When MS Dhoni walked in at 8/4 and top-scored with a fighting 71 in ENG vs IND 2014 Old Trafford Test

Credit goes to few other cricketers as well

If Ishant Sharma's 7-wicket spell is considered the best from India, then Ajinkya Rahane's century in the first innings is marked as the best in the first phase of the game. Rahane's 103-run innings remained as one of his finest knocks throughout his entire career. Ravindra Jadeja's (68) half century also behaved like a catalyst. It was Jadeja's maiden Test half-century in his Test career, and after that, he displayed his own sword celebrations for the first time. 

"Memorable win for us, not many players have played Test cricket in England, their approach was brilliant, it was a fantastic performance", MS Dhoni, then the captain of Team India said after the infamous victory. 

"That last over before lunch, Ishant did not really want to bowl short, I was like, 'You have to bowl it', I turned the other way round. He got his wicket and then it gave him the confidence to keep bowling short, keep attacking the batsman. I think it was a fantastic performance."

The Indian team has entered a new phase as India is up against England under the captaincy of a new skipper, Shubman Gill. Whenever the Indian team has played against the Three Lions in England, we have witnessed some exciting moments.

In this article, we discuss three Indian bowlers who have claimed the highest wickets in testing and challenging English conditions. The bowlers mentioned in the list have showcased ice-cool temperament and used their bowling skills cleverly to outfox the English batters. We discuss these bowlers in detail:

1.Ishant Sharma (51 Wickets in 15 Tests)

Ishant Sharma has bowled well in seaming English conditions as the pacer has claimed 51 wickets in 15 tests that he has played in England against England. During the Lord's test in July 2014, he registered figures of 7/74 in the second innings, helping India win by 95 runs.

Sharma troubled English batters with his swing, pace and bounce as he used his length to good effect. He claimed 18 wickets during the 2018 tour of England and toured England four times.

2. Kapil Dev (43 Wickets in 13 Tests)

Former India all-rounder showcased impressive skills when it came to causing problems with his clever outswingers or leg cutters. He could generate pace even on slow wickets. The former India captain toured England four times with two five-wicket hauls.

He registered his best figures of 5/125 during the Lord's Test in June 1982. Kapil Dev claimed 43 wickets in 13 tests he played in England against England. The Haryana Hurricane, as he was fondly called during his playing days, claimed 16 wickets during India's tour of England.

3. Mohammad Shami (42 Wickets in 14 Tests)

Mohammad Shami has produced some impressive performances with his clever seam movements combined with his pace in testing English conditions. The 36-year-old pacer toured England three times, claiming 42 wickets in 14 tests. 

Shami registered his best bowling figures in tests in England in 2014 when he registered figures of 4/57 at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. During the 2018 series, he registered 16 wickets in 5 tests.

India's pace-bowling superstar Jasprit Bumrah has conquered another prestigious milestone in his cricketing career. In the ongoing Headingly Test against England, Bumrah picked up three wickets, accounting for the dismissals of Crawley, Duckett, and Root to become the highest-wicket taker in SENA countries. The 31-year-old registered 148 wickets in SENA countries, surpassing the legendary Pakistani pacer Wasim Akram. 

See also: WATCH: Jasprit Bumrah befool Zak Crawley and takes first wicket for India against England

Asian bowlers to take the most wickets in SENA countries

Surprisingly, four Indian bowlers find themselves in this elite list of wicket takers. Wasim Akram is the sole Pakistani bowler to feature in this list. Besides, there is no mention of any bowlers from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The figures indicate the legacy that has been left behind by the Indian bowlers and how much of a threat they can pose to the opposition despite being far away from home.

Speaking of the current state of the Headingly Test, India were dismantled cheaply on day two despite a rollicking start on the previous day. The visitors lost seven wickets for only 41 runs and were bundled out prematurely for 471. In response, the Indian bowlers, apart from Bumrah, bowled erratically and lacked penetration. Despite having a little bit of weather around, the Indian pace battery failed to cash in, allowing English batters to milk runs freely. 

Bumrah was the only standout bowler for India, accounting for all three English dismissals. The pacer stood tall as he always does amid dire circumstances, and single-handedly tried to take the attack to the English batters. It took him just six balls to dismiss Crawley early doors, which equaled his wickets tally with Akram. Moving on, he also broke a vital 122-run stand between Duckett and Pope by rattling the former's stumps, getting him past Akram's tally. And in the end, he concluded the day on a positive note for India by dismissing Root just at the stroke of stumps.

On April 22, 2025, a tragic terrorist attack took place in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of 28 people, most of whom were tourists, in the beautiful surroundings of Baisaran Valley, commonly referred to as "Mini Switzerland." The attack was carried out by The Resistance Front (TRF), which is a splinter group of Lashkar-e-Taiba, and was one of the worst attacks since the 2019 Pulwama attack and was targeted at civilians. This attack claimed 24 Indian tourists, two locals, and two foreigners, with more than 20 people reported as injured. The global cricketing community demonstrated a rare and extraordinary act of solidarity as players, boards, and fans sided with the victims and their families and condemned the attack on civilians, stood against terrorism, and expressed a united front.

Indian Cricketers and IPL Teams Lead Tributes

Indian cricketers, both current and past, took to social media, particularly X, really expressing their sadness and anger and supporting peace and the bravery of security forces. Virat Kohli, who captained India previously, tweeted, "Devastated with the news from Pahalgam. My heart goes out to the families of the victims. Violence has no place in our world. Praying for peace and strength for all those affected." Sachin Tendulkar, a cricketing icon, tweeted, "Shocked and saddened by the inhumane act in Pahalgam. My deepest condolences to the victims families. India tands united against terrorism." Gautam Gambhir, India’s head coach, demanded justice, posting, “Praying for the families of the deceased. Those responsible will pay. India will strike. #Pahalgam.”

Also Read: Top 3 Reasons why Lucknow Super Giants Lost to Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025 Match 40

Yuvraj Singh called for unity, saying, "Deeply saddened by the attack on tourists in Pahalgam. Sending prayers to the victims and their families. Let’s unite for hope and humanity." Shubman Gill denounced violence, saying, "Heartbreaking to hear about the attack in Pahalgam. My prayers are with the victims. Violence has no place in our country." KL Rahul expressed, "Heartbreaking to hear about the terrorist attack in Kashmir. My thoughts are with the families. Wishing peace and strength." Virender Sehwag lamented, "Deeply pained to hear of the indecent terrorist attack on innocent tourists in #Pahalgam. Prayers for the injured." Irfan Pathan, who was in Kashmir just before this attack, said, "Every time an innocent life is lost, humanity is lost. This pain feels too close."

IPL teams also condemned the violence. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) expressed, "Deeply saddened and shocked… Our hearts go out to the families of the innocent lives lost in Pahalgam." Delhi Capitals (DC) expressed, "Heartbroken by the tragic loss of lives in Pahalgam. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims. #StandAgainstTerror." Rajasthan Royals (RR) stated, "Devastated by the senseless violence in Pahalgam. We stand united with the victims and the families and are praying for peace." Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) wrote, "Shocked by the horrific atrocity that took place in Pahalgam. Our deepest condolences to all the families affected. Violence has no place in our society." Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) wrote, "Deeply pained by the tragedy of Pahalgam. Our prayers are with the victims and their loved ones." These posts... dedicated to the victims and families and posted on X... are a demonstration of the commitment by IPL to unity in opposition of terror.

Indian Cricket Board and Fans Respond

Messages also poured in from international cricketing organizations and players. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released a statement: “The BCCI mourns the loss of lives in the Pahalgam attack and stands in solidarity with the victims and their families. Cricket is a sport which unites the masses and we are firmly against such divisive, violent acts.” 

Fans from around the globe took to social media using tweets like #StandwithPahalgam and #CricketforPeace and made cricket forums into places of memorials. The attack, which targeted a tourism hotspot, struck a nerve with cricketers who had seen and appreciated and felt humbled by Kashmir that intensify their emotions. It also sparked debates on India-Pakistan cricketing ties, with Goswami’s views reflecting broader frustrations.

Also Read: Heartbreak in Pahalgam: Ritika Sajdeh reacts to tragic terror attack

The Pahalgam attack is a wake-up call for both the fragility of peace and human resilience. In a sport where competition is fierce, the cricketing world demonstrated its ability to show unity and compassion off the field, exemplifying once again the ability of cricket to break barriers and bring together people in solidarity in the face of terror.

IPL Teams that have condemned about #PahalgamTerrorAttack
1- Lucknow super giants #lsg pic.twitter.com/Qmiq2u92RR

— JosD92 (@JosD92official) April 23, 2025

Thinking of every single life lost, hurt and changed forever in Pahalgam today. Om Shanti 🙏

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) April 22, 2025

Shocked and Saddened! We offer our deepest condolences and prayers to the innocent lives lost in the horrific Pahalgam terror attack. 🙏

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) April 23, 2025

Praying for the families of the deceased. Those responsible for this will pay. India will strike. #Pahalgam

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) April 22, 2025

Heartbreaking to hear about the attack in Pahalgam. My prayers are with the victims and their families. Violence like this has no place in our country.

— Shubman Gill (@ShubmanGill) April 22, 2025

'Justice To Be Served': Virat Kohli And Hardik Pandya Condemn Pahalgam Terror Attack, Express Solidarity With Victims
.
.
.#ViratKohli #Hardikpandya #PahalgamTerrorAttcakhttps://t.co/jpCpIBgtja

— Republic (@republic) April 23, 2025

Heartbreaking to hear about the tragic attack in Pahalgam. Innocent lives lost to senseless violence. Praying for strength and peace for the affected families. Let's stand together against hate. #Pahalgam

— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) April 22, 2025

Every time an innocent life is lost, humanity loses. It’s heartbreaking to see and hear about what happened in Kashmir today. I was just there couple of days ago — this pain feels too close.

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 22, 2025

The IPL 2025 match between the Gujarat Titans (GT) and the Delhi Capitals (DC) on April 19 at Narendra Modi Stadium offered more than just plenty of runs scored by both teams. In fact, in the end, the post-season fireworks associated with veteran paceman Ishant Sharma and DC's emerging star Ashutosh Sharma overshadowed even the performance played on the pitch. The long-lasting drama between these two players occurred in the final overs of DC's innings, just as Sharma had completed a bouncer that had quelled what had been a competitive game until this point. 

Sharma's contentious bouncer, pitching in the 19th over, directly hit the shoulder of Ashutosh, which resulted in a furious display from Ishant. Ishant, believing the ball had bat contact, had his own frustration raised further when the umpire did not declare Ashutosh out. With Ashutosh maintaining his composure, he rolled up his sleeve and revealed his shoulder - with the "impact" mark upon it—and continued the verbal exchange into a stare-down confrontation between Ishant and Ashutosh that only ended when GT skipper Shubman Gill next got involved in the situation and was spotted in an argument with the on-field umpires.

On-Field Tensions and Team Dynamics

The discussion was more than a personal spat but a flare-up of the great emotions of IPL 2025. Ishant from GT was visibly tormented and clearly exasperated, and his flailing arms captured the eye of the dugout coach, Ashish Nehra. GT ultimately took Ishant off and replaced him with Sherfane Rutherford as an Impact Player, perhaps to help defuse the situation. Ashutosh scored 37 runs in 19 balls as part of DC's ominous 203/8 above powerful innings with Axar Patel (39), Karun Nair (31), and Tristan Stubbs (31).

Watch the video of the incident below.

#GTvsDC #DCvsGT #JinxColdplay

Battle b/w ishant sharma vs ashutosh Sharma 🤣🤣😂

pic.twitter.com/rKAULTkdVf

— Ramesh (@Iam_Rameshh_) April 19, 2025

Also Read: IPL 2025: Top 3 reasons why Royal Challengers Bengaluru lost against Punjab Kings in Match No. 34

The incident was widely circulated on social media, which led to chatter among fans, some humorously noting the "Delhi spirit" exhibited by Ishant no matter what shirt he seemed to wear. The disagreement did not change the outcome of the match but spoke to the passion and pressure that exist in IPL cricket.  For Ishant and Ashutosh, as they each move on as players, this moment will best be remembered as a fiery highlight of the season, a reminder to us all of the raw emotion that turns the IPL into a global prodigy.

On April 6, during the IPL 2025 match between Gujarat Titans (GT) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Ishant Sharma was subject to disciplinary action by the BCCI. The fast bowler was held guilty of violating the IPL Code of Conduct for his on-field conduct. The situation was noticed since it did not reflect the usual sportsmanship of the league.

Ishant Sharma was charged by the match referee under Article 2.2 of the IPL Code of Conduct, according to the match referee. This article deals with actions which are not in the usual course of play, such as damaging the pitch, equipment, or showing aggression in an inappropriate manner.
Ishant agreed with the decision of the referee without any debate and accepted the charge.

Consequently, the BCCI fined him 25% of his match fee and also awarded him one demerit point. These fines are intended to ensure discipline in the league and remind players of the need for fair play. Ishant's behavior, as inferred though not violent, was found to be unacceptable according to the rules.

ALSO READ:IPL 2025 RR vs GT : Player battles to watch out

Gujarat Titans’ #IshantSharma handed 25 percent fine and one demerit point by #IPL https://t.co/3YEJ7a0t2f

— Express Sports (@IExpressSports) April 7, 2025

What Happened During the Match?

The reported incident happened in the course of a fiery moment in GT vs SRH. Ishant Sharma, whose aggression and intensity of bowling make him a polarizing figure, could have vented his anger either at the umpire's decision or in reaction to completing a specific over. This got him reported for misconduct by the match officials.

Although the specifics of the act were not released, the punishment makes it obvious that it was a serious enough violation to be officially dealt with. These types of actions are closely monitored by officials to make sure the integrity of the game is maintained.

Some situations in cricket are not easy for bowlers, such as when batters take full advantage of a single over. Over the years, a few Indian bowlers have experienced such tough moments in One Day Internationals (ODIs). Below are some situations where Indian bowlers gave the maximum number of runs to the opponent in an over within the same ODI match.

1. Ishant Sharma – 30 runs against Australia, 2013

When Ishant Sharma suffered at the hands of James Faulkner when on his way to a 30-run over against Australia in 2013, he was on the receiving end of several boundaries and sixes, which changed the course of the match in Australia's favor. It was one of the costliest overs for an Indian in ODI history.

2. Yuvraj Singh – 30 runs against England (2007)

As one of the established batsmen, Yuvraj also bowled occasional part-time spin. During one ODI vs England in 2007 he was utterly ripped apart by Dimitri Mascarenhas who plundered five sixes from that over and dismissed him for a total of 30 runs through that last over of the innings.

ALSOREAD: Indian Batsmen with the Most Centuries After Turning 30

3. Krunal Pandya-28 v Eng (2021)

Krunal Pandya was an all-rounder who faced the tough over in 2021 against England. In that game, Sam Curran and Jonny Bairstow of England played aggressively against Krunal and took 28 runs off a single over bowled by him. That cost India heavily as England accelerated in the match.

ALSO READ:Why Indian Cricketers Don't Play Ranji Trophy

4. Harshit Rana – 26 runs against England (2025)

In 2025, a young pacer, Harshit Rana, conceded 26 runs in an over against England. The over was full of boundaries and sixes, leaving India under severe pressure. In other parts of the game, Rana did pretty well and took 3 wickets, but this over would become one of the most expensive overs by an Indian in ODIs.