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Kolkata: The country was celebrating Holi, and Wasim Akram had reached Kolkata just one day before. However, the Pakistani legend was in no mood to cool his heels, because Ishant Sharma and his spiralling Twenty20 form was high on his agenda.
Those who witnessed Ishant's first practice session under the Knight Riders' bowling consultant on a sultry afternoon at the Eden Gardens have an idea why the lanky seamer has looked a different bowler in the first two IPL matches.
Match figures of 1 for 31 and no wicket for 27 respectively don't speak of any great success, but from the first two matches, it has been evident that Ishant was getting his pace back, firing in the yorkers accurately and, most importantly, seemed to be enjoying himself.
Knight Rider skipper Sourav Ganguly has also shown a lot of confidence in the youngster by bringing him on at the death. Sharma has the licence to go flat out and is under no pressure to deliver everytime.
The Knight Riders think-tank has allowed him to take his own time to get into the groove, while Akram is working overtime to make him a better bowler.
"Ishant was perhaps a little short on confidence when we had our first session in the nets. Technically there were no major flaws. It was just that his rhythm was not absolutely perfect and after a modest last season he was not confident enough to go full throttle. So, we worked on his run-up and delivery strides, but mainly on the mental aspects of the game. We have also discussed what should be the right place to bowl yorkers, on slower deliveries - basically everything. One needs to be relaxed, especially when he is bowling at the death. He is a very good listener," Akram said.
