Pandya credits Ishant after splendid show
NOTTINGHAM: All-rounder Hardik Pandya said that he owed a lot to Ishant Sharma for his sensational five-wicket haul in the Trent Bridge Test against England that has put the visitors in a position to win the game in a series where they are 0-2 down.
Pandya reaped the rewards of maintaining a superb length to run through England’s batting line-up in seaming conditions on Sunday, leaving India in command. His 5/28 in just six overs saw England fold for 161 in 38.2 overs.
“We were bowling the same lengths we did in the other games as well. We were getting enough swing, and situation was such that if they played a bad shot we will be up again. We had the cushion of runs under the belt as well,” Pandya said in a media conference after the day’s play.
Ishant Sharma, the seniormost member of the team playing his 86th Test, came on with England having reached 46/0 at lunch. He immediately hit a fuller length to get the ball swing and seam, triggering the batting collapse with two wickets. Pandya then took over.
“Big role, actually,” said when asked about his constant chats with Ishant during the spell. “He even told me to talk about it in the press conference,” he laughed.
“Ishant and I keep talking about the game; I would love to improve my game.
“As a bowling unit we keep talking because the captain has a lot on his plate. So, as a bowling unit we need to step up and think in our way as well, how to make life difficult for the batsman. He was telling me ‘don’t go for the wickets; you have the talent. If you bowl in the right areas, you are going to get wickets.’
“The same thing I tell him, the same thing we tell the other bowlers -- keep it tight; let us see what they do. Let us test their patience, and see what they do. And we saw the result.”
Pandya also impressed by the way he used the crease, going wide and closer to the stumps which kept the batsmen guessing. He also surprised Chris Woakes with a short-pitched delivery which the England allrounder nicked behind the stumps.
“If you see the other two games, I did the same thing. Only, on Sunday I got wickets. I feel with my bowling style, it is important to do that. Otherwise, they will get used to it if I bowl the same length because I don’t get the ball to swing both ways that much. Out swing is my main ball; that is why I keep on using it. It makes it difficult for them to get it exactly where I am bowling.”
The Baroda player has a fivewicket haul in first-class cricket as well, and rated the latest effort higher than his maiden Test century in Sri Lanka last year, in his debut series.