Ishant Sharma Equals Zaheer Khan's Record In Test Cricket

Senior pacer Ishant Sharma kept India alive in the ongoing Test match against New Zealand. It is Sharma’s 11th five-for and it couldn’t have come at a better time. The hosts scored 348 in reply to India’s 165 in the first innings.

Ishant Sharma at Basin Reserve, Wellington.

2014 – 5-wicket haul ☑️
2020 – 5-wicket haul ☑️#TeamIndia #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/E3YLO1T1YZ

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 23, 2020

NZ bowled out for 348 in reply to India’s 165

The right-arm pacer dismissed Tom Blundell, Tom Latham and Ross Taylor on day 2. He scalped the wickets of Trent Boult and Tim Southee to complete the milestone. Sharma helped India dominate a session amidst the Kiwi domination.

Sharma is currently tied with Zaheer Khan at the second spot in the chart of Indian pacers with most five-wicket hauls in whites. The lanky pacer also went past Bhagwat Chandrasekhar and Zaheer Khan to record  the third most number of five-wicket hauls in away Tests, He is just behind Anil Kumble (10) and Kapil Dev (12) now.

Sleep deprived Ishant Sharma bags five-for

Sharma was sleep deprived and stated earlier that he could have done better on day 2. “I am not happy because I have not slept for two days and I was struggling a lot today (with my body). The way I would have liked to bowl, it did not happen. They asked me to play and I played. Anything, for the team,” said India’s go-to pacer in the current game.

Colin de Grandhomme took the attack to the opposition and hit an entertaining 43. BJ Watling got the tough runs and stuck through the thick part but he was removed by Jasprit Bumrah.

India probably missed a few tricks as it allowed Trent Boult score plenty of runs to disturb the balance of the game. Spinner Ravi Ashwin bagged three wickets while the rest of the pacers picked one each. The visitors lost two wickets heading to tea. They are currently on 78/2 in the second innings.