Ishant Sharma’s Iconic Spell to Ricky Ponting in 2008: A Defining Moment for India in Australia
His ability to swing the ball sharply and bowl consistently in the right areas left Ponting, one of the game’s greats, at a loss. Ishant’s efforts helped India dismiss Australia, sending the series to Adelaide with India trailing 2-1.
Ishant Sharma’s spell against Ricky Ponting during the 2008 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia remains one of the defining moments in Indian cricket history. The match at the WACA, Perth, marked a turning point for India, who were 2-0 down in the series and reeling from controversial umpiring decisions that led to their defeats in Melbourne and Sydney.
India entered the Perth Test determined to make a statement, with a fiery attitude borne out of perceived injustice. Having generated a 413-run target to defend, India’s young pacer Ishant Sharma, just 19 years old, played a pivotal role. In the first innings, he had already dismissed key Australian middle-order batsmen, including Ponting and Michael Clarke. However, it was the spell he bowled to Ponting on Day 4 that cemented his place in Indian cricket lore.
Ishant, tall and with a strong action, used his natural ability to generate reverse swing and seam movement, especially on the WACA pitch. He bowled with precision, consistently targeting Ponting's pads and midriff, unsettling the Australian skipper, who was visibly uncomfortable facing the young pacer. The relentless pressure built up as Ponting missed a few deliveries, left others that seamed in sharply, and eventually succumbed to a fuller delivery. The ball caught Ponting on the defense, and Rahul Dravid, at first slip, took a regulation catch.
Reflecting on the moment years later, Ishant recalled how he entered a rhythm that allowed him to bowl exactly where he wanted. “When a bowler enters a rhythm, things start happening,” he said. His ability to swing the ball sharply and bowl consistently in the right areas left Ponting, one of the game’s greats, at a loss. Ishant’s efforts helped India dismiss Australia, sending the series to Adelaide with India trailing 2-1.
This spell, a rare feat for a teenager against one of cricket’s greatest captains, marked Ishant Sharma as a bowler with immense potential and spirit, embodying India's resilience and competitive spirit during their historic 2008 tour of Australia.
