Windies vs India: Ishant Sharma credits Jasprit Bumrah for his fifer in the first innings

Senior India pacer Ishant Sharma has credited his teammate Jasprit Bumrah for his stunning five-wicket haul against the Windies in the ongoing first Test. After bowling out India for a modest 297, the hosts were looking set to put up a good challenge with the bat. Towards the end of Day two, they were well placed at 130 for 4 and then 176 for 5. But by the end of the day, the Windies were reeling at 179 for 8.

Ishant Sharma was the destructor-in-chief as the lanky pacer triggered a collapse late in the day with cross-seamed deliveries. He picked three wickets for five runs to complete yet another five-wicket haul, his ninth in Tests and put India on top. Following the spell, which could very well turn out to be decisive, Ishant revealed the advice he received from Bumrah. The senior pacer said that Bumrah asked him to try cross-seam bowling.

“There was rain and after that the ball became wet and there was nothing happening (with the ball). So, we thought we can bowl with a cross seam. There was bounce. Actually, Bumrah told me that we can try cross-seam since there is nothing happening,” Ishant, who returned with figures of 5/42, said.

“The attempt was, if you bowl out the opposition as soon as possible, it is good for your team. We tried that we were able to do that,” he told fielding coach R Sridhar who interviewed him for bcci.tv.

Prior to his five-wicket haul, Ishant Sharma had also impressed with the bat. He provided some good resistance at the start of the day and scored 19 in the 60-run stand with Ravindra Jadeja (58). Speaking about his knock, Ishant said he wanted to share a big stand with Jadeja to bail the team out of trouble.

“To be honest, when I was out during our innings, I was not feeling good at all. The more I scored runs with Jadu (Jadeja), the better it would be for the team. From 25 for 3, the kind of comeback we had, I wanted to have a long partnership with Jadeja,” said the 30-year-old.

India in command

Riding on unbeaten fifties from skipper Virat Kohli and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, India have put themselves in the driver’s seat. At the end of day three, India were 185 for 3 with their overall lead extended to 260. Rahane was playing on 53 while Kohli was on 51 when the day ended.

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