Watch: Ishant Sharma flummoxed Vijay Shankar with a magical variation, described by Dale Steyn as the “best knuckle ball wicket” he had ever seen, during the Gujarat Titans-Delhi Capitals IPL 2023 match.

Ishant has enjoyed a fine comeback to IPL, having returned to the tournament after a four-year gap. Bowling with the new ball, Ishant combined with Delhi Capitals’ other quicks – Khaleel Ahmed and Anrich Nortje – to trouble Gujarat Titans early in their chase of 131. Delhi Capitals needed early wickets, and the pace trio delivered.

Off the final ball of the fifth over, Ishant shrewdly sent down a knuckle ball, slyly switching his grip at the last moment and delivering a slower one. It floated in the air and deceived Shankar with its lack of pace. Clocked at just 119kph, the ball jagged in the air and splattered the stumps.

Shankar – currently Gujarat Titans’ second-highest run-getter this season, was visibly dazed, looking first at that pitch and then at the bowler. Hardik Pandya, the non-striker, turned his head away in disappointment.

On Twitter, Dale Steyn was full of praise. “Okay, Ishant just bowled the best knuckle ball wicket I’ve ever seen!” he tweeted.

Earlier, it was Ishant’s India teammate Mohammed Shami who did the damage for Gujarat Titans, finishing with his best IPL figures of 4-0-11-4, including a near-perfect delivery to send back Rilee Rossouw.

Watch the Ishant Sharma knuckle ball here:

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