Ishant needs to step up and take more wickets: Agarkar

Former India pacer Ajit Agarkar feels that Ishant Sharma should step up in a leadership role as the bowling unit has the skill set and ability to take 20 Australian wickets in the third cricket Test starting tomorrow at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
"Ishant needs to do a bit more in terms of getting wickets. He got some in the second innings but first innings he was not that good. Maybe, he needs to step up and get more wickets with the kind of experience he has. So I don't think he is bowling poorly but it's time he starts spearheading the attack and taking wickets," Agarkar told PTI in an interaction today.

Agarkar also hada word of advice for the inexperienced duo of Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron.
"Umesh came into the side in Brisbane and bowled well. Varun Aaron needs to be a bit more consistent. He gave away too many runs in both the matches. But they are just too inexperienced. They will need some time. Just like the batsmen need time to settle down to the experience of different conditions, so do the bowlers," he added.
Agarkar said that the younger lot have done well but they just need to be more consistent to perform well in foreign conditions.

"They almost did pick up 20 wickets in the last Test. If there is help in the pitch it generally suits India overseas. Obviously they need to put the runs on the board. They have definitely got the ability to get 20 wickets, they just need to be more patient and consistent," said the former pacer, who is part of the video show 'Match Point' on ESPNCricinfo.

Many believed that Bhuvneshwar Kumar's absence hurt India in the first two matches that they lost but Agarkar feels that a single player does not affect a team performance.
"Bhuvneshwar has been one of their main guys in Test matches but I don't think his absence has really hurt India. I think India were in really good positions to win Test matches but they have just not taken those chances.

"I think they have not grabbed the opportunities that have come their way and Australia have grabbed them. I don't think one player being there or not really makes a difference," he said.