India getting extra runs due to Ishant Sharma putting a price on his wicket, says Sunil Gavaskar

While it was Hanuma Vihari who scored the highest for the Men in Blue on the second day in Kingston, Ishant Sharma managed to steal the limelight with his gritty batting display. He managed to score his first half century in international cricket, accumulating 57 runs of 80 balls in a beautiful innings laced with seven boundaries.

Having made his debut in 2007, Sharma has since played in 91 Test matches, in which he had come to the crease for 127 innings without reaching the milestone. His previous highest score was an unbeaten 31 which had come nine years ago against Sri Lanka.

“Why should he make his wicket cheap, he doesn’t get wickets cheaply. He is putting a price on his wicket,” Sunil Gavaskar had said on commentary duties while witnessing Sharma bat at the Sabina Park, reported Hindustan Times.

In the first match too, Sharma had refused to go down without a fight, scoring 19 runs but more importantly facing 62 balls while giving the other batsmen support. His half-century was particularly crucial for Hanuma Vihari, for without his support he would not have been able to record his maiden Test century. Vihari had joked that Sharma looked more like a batsman on the pitch than he himself did, before thanking him for his efforts.

“He batted well in the first Test where he put on a partnership with (Hanuma) Vihari. They gave India extra runs in the first inning [in Antigua]. They are doing the same here,” Gavaskar added.