The experienced Indian pacer Ishant Sharma claimed that the team felt confident always when Virat Kohli stayed on the crease. At the end of the day two of Perth Test between the hosts Australia and the visitors India, Sharma claimed that the morning session of the third day would be crucial for them where they wanted to turn the game in their favour.
In the reply of Australia’s first innings total 326 runs, the Indian openers lost their wickets at the very early stage. But the skipper Virat Kohli and the Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane have taken the control of the innings as they remained not out on 82 and 51 runs respectively while India has scored 172/3 at the stumps on day two.
Speaking about Kohli’s batting, Ishant said at the end of day two, “We feel pretty confident whenever he [Kohli] is batting. We finished the day in a strong position. It’s equal right now, hopefully we’ll win the first session tomorrow and turn the game in our favour.”
After defensive Pujara (24 off 103 balls) was dismissed by producing a patience 74-run partnership for the third wicket, Rahane came with a counter-attacking mindset and played a vital role to release the pressure. At the end of the day two, Kohli and Rahane have provided an unbroken 90-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Sharma said about Rahane, “The runs that Rahane scored when he walked out were very important. How he attacked was very good. If he had gotten into a defensive shell maybe the Australians would have been able to exert control with their plans. That counter-attack was very good for Jinx [Rahane] and that’s what forced Australia to change their plans.”
Also read: Khawaja Feels Australia Still Has Enough Chance To Take Control In Perth Test
Earlier the day, Ishant Sharma led the bowling side to finish the Australian first innings on 326 runs. The right-arm tall pacer Sharma picked up four wickets in that innings and ended with the bowling figure of 20.3-7-41-4.
While Ishant is currently the most experienced regular player in the Test squad, the 30-year-old is leading the bowling side and feeling happy to do this.
Sharma said about this responsibility, “There’s an added responsibility. When there’s a tough situation, I like to take responsibility and take wickets. Before this, I’ve seen my seniors in situations where someone or the other stood up for the team. Back then I wasn’t so aware. But now, when a tough situation presents itself, I want to stand up for the team and change the game. On these kinds of wickets if you bowl well, you have a chance to do well.”
In this Test series, Ishant is facing with the front foot no-ball problems as he delivered 16 no-balls during the first Test of the series at Adelaide. During the early fourth innings of that Adelaide Test, Sharma almost dismissed the Australian opener Aaron Finch on the very second ball of that innings but it went in vain due to the front foot no-ball.
Talking about that issue, Sharma said, “I think maybe the Australian media should answer that more than me because it doesn’t effect me, to be very honest, because I know that I’ve been playing cricket for so long. These things happen. You’re human, bound to make mistakes. I’ve not at all been worried about these things.”
