“Won’t be fair to those who have performed in first-class cricket”, Ishant Sharma feels Umran Malik isn’t ready for Test Cricket.

Ishant Sharma, the seasoned Indian fast bowler, shared his views on this topic, specifically focusing on the talented and promising youngster Umran Malik. Although Umran has been selected for India’s limited-overs squad for the upcoming series against the West Indies, he has not been included in the Test matches. When questioned about Umran’s readiness for Test cricket, Ishant offered a well-rounded perspective on the matter. He recognized Umran’s impressive raw pace, but also expressed concerns about his consistency and the absence of a strong first-class record.

As a veteran in the game, Ishant emphasized the significance of rewarding seamers who have consistently proven their abilities in first-class cricket. He stressed the importance of building a solid foundation and honing one’s skills through consistent performance at the domestic level before making the leap to the international stage.

Ishant Sharma said “When he has a good first-class record, he has the pace but consistency is a question mark. If you have to play him Test cricket for a long time, you need to give him a little time to do well in first-class cricket and then you can select him for Test cricket.”

He further added “You won’t be fair to those who have performed in first-class cricket for so many years, picked up wickets for their team and for themselves so that they can play at a higher level.”