IPL 2019 | I’m doing my job, but I need wickets as well, reveals Ishant Sharma
Ishant Sharma is optimistic that Delhi Capitals can go all the way in this year’s edition of the IPL but admitted that he would like to pick up a few more wickets during the powerplay overs. Shreyas Iyer & Co. will take on Kane Williamson's Sunrisers Hyderabad in the first eliminator on Wednesday.
India pacer Ishant Sharma has enjoyed a fine season with a new-look Delhi Capitals side under the leadership of former Australian captain - Ricky Ponting. Sharma, along with South African pacer Kagiso Rabada, has formed the core of the Delhi bowling attack as they managed to qualify for the play-offs ending the league stage in the third position. Shreyas Iyer & Co. will take on Kane Williamson-led Sunrisers Hyderabad in the first eliminator which will be played on Wednesday.
However, Sharma is confident that Delhi will win their first-ever IPL trophy this season having impressed with the bat and ball right from the very first game of the tournament. The veteran fast-bowler admitted that he has been good with the ball this year but added that he would like to pick a few more wickets in the latter of half of the ongoing tournament.
"I have just one aim: to win the IPL trophy this year. Jeetna hain. I'm pretty sure we will win. I don't know why, but I have that belief.
"In the game against Mumbai, after I took two wickets, Shreyas told me I should bowl the rest of my overs later. But I said, 'No, let me bowl one more over. Maybe if I get another wicket, the game will get over.' I took Quinton de Kock's wicket. So after that game I started bowling three overs upfront in the Powerplay," Sharma said in a recent interview with ESPNCricinfo.
Sharma, who has picked up 10 wickets from 11 games this season, has an economy rate of 6.71 in the powerplay stage. Only Rabada, Jofra Archer and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar have better numbers. Sharma added that former Australia medium-pacer, James Hopes, who is one of the support staff in the Delhi unit, is happy with his bowling despite the slight shortfall of wickets.
"In the first three games [before playing Mumbai Indians] I was talking to Hopesy [James Hopes, bowling coach] telling him about not getting wickets. He was like, 'Mate, you are doing a fantastic job for the team. Doesn't matter, I'm sure wickets will come. And I'm going to say this to you every single day because that's my job. But don't worry about the wickets, because what you are doing, it's not easy - bowling in the Powerplay, bowling to tough batsmen.' I told him I'm doing my job but I need wickets as well," Sharma added.
