Video: Ishant Sharma vs Ricky Ponting in Mohali 2008 - The perfect delivery

Ishant Sharma turns 26 today. The tall and lanky Indian pacer burst onto the scene in 2007-08, bowling fast and troubling batsmen with good use of his height. At 6’4’’, Ishant was a rarity in Indian cricket.

You don’t see tall fast bowlers in India, and when Ishant bowled a magical spell to the great Ricky Ponting at Perth in 2008, the Delhi lad became a nationwide sensation. He got Ponting’s number in the home series in 2008, when he dismissed him in Mohali for 5th time in as many matches. The delivery was quintessentially Ishant, pitched on a good length, snaking in and quick enough to beat Ponting.

The tall young fast bowler hasn’t seen many good days in recent years, but this delivery serves as a reminder to the world of promises he made to Indian cricket fans: