England Vs India 2018, Lord's Test: My Only Motivation is to Win Matches for India: Ishant Sharma

Team India speedster Ishant Sharma produced an excellent bowling performance in the opening Test against England at Edgbaston and bowled the visiting team to a match-winning position during England vs India 2018 Test series opener in Birmingham. The second Lord’s Test will kick off on August 9 (Wednesday).

However, the hosts prevailed in the nail-biting thriller by just 31 runs. Ishant bagged two wickets in the first innings and came back quite firmly in the second innings by bagging a memorable five-wicket haul.

Lanky fast bowler Ishant bowled in the perfect areas and let the relatively effective pitch do the rest. There was a time when he bagged three in an over which had put England on the backfoot.

Ishant is the spearhead of the Indian pace attack. He has been around the international circuit for quite a long time now. However, his record in the most extended format is the worst for any bowler who has played more than 80 Tests and has taken 200-plus Test wickets.

However, he has been quite impressive in the recent past. He has bagged 72 wickets in the last 19 Tests and is on the verge of stamping his authority on the game and the team in the longest format.

During ongoing England vs India 2018 series, speaking with the BCCI. Tv, Ishant Sharma said he is only looking to win matches for India and not thinking about anything else. He is aiming to replicate Lord’ Test heroics in the second match this week.

“My only motive is to win matches for India. It doesn’t matter whether I am playing in Australia, England or South Africa. The only reason for improvement that my motivation has changed a lot. That is the reason why I am also able to bowl long spells. A bowler should always keep in mind the process and the execution skills. If it gets executed, you obviously feel overjoyed,” he said.

“The process comes into work only when you get the wickets. If the wicket column is not showing rewards then people say that well bowled but hard luck. That is good when you come into the team. But it doesn’t work is a senior player. It slowly becomes a performance-oriented game once you become a senior member of the team,” Ishant said.

England vs India: Ishant Sharma also hailed the current Indian fast bowling group before featuring in the Lord’s Test.

“The current fast bowling group is pretty impressive. Anyone can come in the team, and everyone knows that their spots are up for grabs. There is a healthy competition between the bowlers which is a very good sign for the Indian team. Hence the criteria is very simple now. If you perform you continue, or else you make way for the ones waiting in the wings,” he concluded.

Ishant Sharma eager to win more games for the team https://t.co/Qa8AbKW60r

— Arya Chakraborty (@AryaMady) August 8, 2018