Ishant Sharma may have been “advised” by his team-mates to have samurai ponytail, according to his father, Vinay Kumar Sharma.
On Saturday, Team India’s 27-year-old right-handed fast bowler sported a ponytail during the second Test match against South Africa at Bangalore’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Speaking from Delhi on Saturday morning, Sharma Senior said, “Very recently Ishant has come out with this new hairstyle. He is not superstitious but may have been advised by his team-mates to avoid a hair-cut and instead, have this ponytail.”
“Youngsters decide fashion on their own and parents are not consulted. Whatever it is, he looks better. Besides this, his long hairs will not cover his face which otherwise used to distract him while bowling,” Sharma added.
Ishant’s childhood coach Shravan Kumar was not surprised. “He came with this new hairstyle to me a few days ago and therefore I was not surprised. Today’s youngsters follow Bollywood stars and Ishant may have felt this ponytail would suit him,”Kumar said.
“Ishant, however, is not the first Indian cricketer to have a ponytail. Our former fast bowler Kapil Dev, in the later years of his cricketing career, was also seen with this style.”
