‘And I am better than Virat Kohli’ – Fans react to Ishant Sharma’s claim that Zaheer Khan was better than James Anderson
James Anderson, a superstar for England, has matured like a beautiful wine. He had beaten out Ravichandran Ashwin of India earlier this year to take over as the new No. 1 bowler in the Men’s Test Rankings for only the sixth occasion. But when Anderson, at 40, took the top spot in the Test rankings, he also made history by becoming the fifth-oldest bowler to do so. With 686 wickets in his brilliant career which is the third-most by a player in Test history, Anderson continues to be among the real advocates of the conventional format even if most of the international cricket has shifted away from the faster-paced T20 version or more compact formats.
Although Anderson is an essential member of England’s Test squad as he strives to become the first bowler to record 700 or more wickets, a seasoned Indian great has questioned the 40-year-old’s career before making the bold claim that Anderson should be compared to retiring Indian great Zaheer Khan.
“Maybe if he played in India…”: Ishant Sharma
Ishant Sharma told YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia on “The Ranveer Show” that Anderson’s career would not have been the same if he had been from India. Ishant clarified that Anderson had undergone conditioning and bowls in a different condition than an Indian bowler when asked if he has ever spoken with Anderson about his bowling and ageing.
Ishant Sharma said, “Jimmy Anderson’s bowling style and method are quite different. He plays in different conditions in England. Maybe if he played in India.” He went on to claim that the Indian bowler was better than the English fast bowler. He said, “Zak. He is better than Jimmy Anderson.”
2014 marked Zaheer’s final game in the Indian team colours. Before Ishant matched it in his last appearance for India, during his 14-year Test career, he had taken 311 wickets for India, the most amongst the Indian fast bowlers in the format.
Fans react to Ishant Sharma’s claim that Zaheer Khan was better than James Anderson:
Ishant Sharma said, "Zaheer Khan was better than Jimmy Anderson". (On BeerBiceps YT). pic.twitter.com/QCFm35miC2
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 25, 2023
Nice joke 😁
— Wali Rehman (@walirehmann) June 26, 2023
just like Vada Pao is better than Virat Kohli
— Sultan Khan (@MainHoonSultan7) June 25, 2023
Absolutely not! What is he smoking?
— Finny (@FinnysUtopia) June 25, 2023
Zaheer Khan literally taught Jimmy how to swing the bowl with the seam hidden to the batsman.
I've read it in cricket samrat 2009 march/April edition.— Thakur Vishal Singh (@vksingh805280) June 25, 2023
Far better coz Zak doesn't relays on Clouds
— ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ (@Jaggufied) June 25, 2023
https://twitter.com/ProudHindu_1995/status/1673060353247444994?s=20
Ishant spitting facts, what color is andersons WC 👀
— Rashy_UTD (@Rashy_UTD010) June 25, 2023
Professional cricketers should avoid these comparisons..leave it to the fans or trolls talking about Clouds n all.
— movieman (@movieman777) June 25, 2023
You can’t compare anyone with Anderson , at this age he still playing and others have gained 20kg extra at younger age.
— Bhupinder Singh (@Mrsinghginni) June 25, 2023
