Indian pace spearhead Ishant Sharma has expressed his satisfaction and happiness over the performance of the team’s bowling unit in the first Test against West Indies. On a pitch that offered little assistance to the bowlers, the Indian bowlers did a remarkable job by dismissing the opposition twice in 168 overs to help India secure their biggest overseas win (an innings and 92 runs) and take a 1-0 lead in the four-match Test series.
In an interview with bcci.tv, the lanky pacer said that the team have to play positive cricket to achieve their goal.
“We have to be ruthless and play positive cricket. The rest we have to assess as to how the game progresses and plan according to the situation.”
Talking about the bowling plans in the last match, Ishant said: “West Indies batsmen struggled against short-pitched deliveries. We bowled according to a plan. We bowled short and mixed with fuller length deliveries. On a pitch where nothing happens, you need to be consistent. Umesh and Shami bowled well in the first innings and Ash (Ashwin) and Mishy (Mishra) did well in the second innings. I got one wicket in this match but may be in the next it will be my turn to get more wickets.”
Meanwhile, he also backed his skipper Virat Kohli’s decision to impose follow-on.
“It all depends on your fitness, whether you are enforcing the follow-on or not. Once it was decided (to enforce follow-on) we were all ready and mentally prepared to go out and bowl again. We never had second thoughts about it. We cannot give excuses about being tired or anything.”
The second Test will start on Saturday(July 30) at Jamaica.