Atul Sharma debut on ice – for now

It now appears unlikely that Atul Sharma will make his debut in the current IPL.

The 23-year-old fast bowler, who has come to attention by winning a contract with Shane Warne’s Rajasthan Royals, despite not having played a competitive game for seven years, has been sidelined by a shoulder injury throughout the tournament.

Ironically, despite Sharma’s unusual, javelin-inspired training and speeds of up to 100mph, the shoulder  injury was sustained after a fall during fielding practice.

Remarkably, Sharma has remained in the Rajasthan squad for the duration of the tournament, despite being an injury doubt; while other name players such as Mohammad Kaif were omitted when the parties were cut back to 16.

Sharma’s innovative action was given the okay by Australian Institute of Sport boss Greg Chappell, after an extended net session with the Royals’ Shane Watson last December. Thanks to his reported ability to bowl faster than anyone in the world, the young fast bowler has attracted a lot of buzz on Indian fans forums, since his signing for the Royals. He has given no media interviews until his seven-page exclusive in the current issue of SPIN magazine.

However, intriguingly, Rajasthan Royals have recently announced a charity Twenty20 challenge match against English T20 champions Middlesex Panthers, at Lord’s on July 6. The game is in aid of the British Asians Trust.

If Sharma’s return to full fitness, as expected, is a matter of weeks away, the fixture would provide a high-profile setting for his debut.