India vs Australia | When Virat Kohli is at the crease, we feel confident, claims Ishant Sharma

Ishant Sharma, though not at his best, managed to bag the most number of wickets -four - in the Australian first innings. As the Indian innings started on the Day 2, its openers departed cheaply when the Indian skipper started leading the Indian innings first, along with Cheteshwar Pujara(24) and then with Ajinkya Rahane. Both Kohli and Rahane remained unbeaten at the end of the day’s play.

“Whenever he [Virat Kohli] is batting, we feel pretty confident,” said Ishant in the press conference after day’s play.

“We felt good obviously as we finished the day on a strong position. Hopefully, they both will continue tomorrow and we win the first session and turn the game in our favour. Right now I can say it’s even-steven,” he said.

After India lost Cheteshwar Pujara on a ball which was going down the leg side, India’s vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane got to the crease and scored a quickfire 30-odd run before settling for his orthodox style batting. At the end of the day’s play, Rahane and Kohli had already formed a solid unbeaten partnership of 90 runs for the fourth wicket.

“I think Ajinkya Rahane’s counter-attacking innings in that period was very important for the team. It also made Australia change their plans,” said Ishant. 

Even before Kohli and Rahane got going, Pujara and Kohli had added 74 runs following the openers falling cheaply. Mitchell Starc, who had earlier picked the wicket of Murali Vijay with a beauty, bagged the wicket of Pujara albeit with a relative loosener.

“When Pujara defends, the ball doesn’t go past the square. I have played against him and I know how difficult it is to bowl at him. He makes the bowlers tired. I knew if he stays he can do wonders. It was unfortunate the way he got out. We don’t get those wickets that easily, going down leg and caught behind. Then, Jinx and Virat played pretty good shots which shifted momentum in our side and we ended the day pretty well,” he said.

Ishant Sharma, in the last match at the Adelaide Oval, was caught bowling more than a few no-balls by the Australian media, many of the balls were not called in by the on-field umpires. A similar thing happened with an Australian bowler today where an overstepped delivery was not called in by the on-field umpire. 

“Maybe Australian media should answer the question. Not me. I have been playing cricket for so long. And these things happen. Because you are a human, you are bound to make a mistake. I was not worried about it at all,” Ishant said.