Perceptions have played a role in my exclusion from one day set-up: Ishant Sharma

Fighting perceptions in Indian cricket is quite a task and India's most experienced paceman Ishant Sharma has learned it the hard way having played the last of his 80 ODIs more than three years ago.

The 30-year-old, who has played 90 Test matches, has been dubbed a long-form specialist, something that doesn't amuse him.

"Yes I think perception has played a big part in me not being in limited overs set-up. I still don't know where these perceptions come from," Ishant said while answering a question from PTI during a media round table organised by the Delhi Capitals.

Cheteshwar Pujara, with a 50-plus List A average, has also dealt with the tag of a Test specialist and Ishant can relate his situation to that of the Saurashtra batsman.

"It is something that players have been dealing with to be honest but I don't know frankly that from where these perceptions emerge. They give us tags like "he is a Test bowler", "he is a T20 bowler", white ball bowler, red ball bowler and so on," the irritation was palpable as the pacer spoke.

For the Delhi speedster, if someone can bowl well with the red ball, he is good enough to play any format.

"Whoever can do well in red-ball cricket can do well in any format. That's the basic of all cricket that we play. All you need to do is back your varieties that you have with the white ball. If I do well in this format, I am sure I can be that fourth seamer going into the World Cup. Indian team is still looking at a fourth seamer," a hopeful Ishant said.

He had had a very good away season with India, getting more wickets than earlier tours when he would be distinctly unlucky despite putting up a good show.

"I got tired of the tag that I am bowling well. Now I just want to take wickets. Wickets are the only thing that can change as you call it 'the perception'."
"Dizz (Gillespie's nickname) was pretty good with me. He always gave me confidence and even if I didn't have a good day on the field, he backed me. He would tell me that you are the best one to judge, which length to bowl to a certain batsman."
"He is a great asset for the team. He helps the captain. He is a legend. You can't express in words what he means to the team."