New Delhi:
India had been resuced by Ajinkya Rahane on day 1 of the Antigua Test when he slammed 81. On day 2, India lost Rishabh Pant cheaply and West Indies were firmly in the game. However, Ravindra Jadeja had found a good ally in Ishant Sharma and the duo rescued India. Ishant, in particular, was solid with the bat and the duo played out 19.1 overs to stitch a partnership of 60 runs for the eighth wicket. Ishant's contribution and Jadeja's 58 helped India reach 297 all out.
Having helped India with the bat, Ishant proceeded to bowl a superb spell in stifling heat and humidity in Antigua. In addition, he also displayed his superb fielding skills off his own bowling, something which was criticised early in his career. Ishant ran through the top order and picked up 5/42, his ninth five-wicket haul as West Indies were stumbling at 189/8, still trailing by 108 runs. Roston Chase was the only batsman to offer resistance as he hit 48 but the rest of the batting floundered. In addition to his bowling, Ishant also took two spectacular catches of his own bowling.
Taking catches off his own bowling was something Ishant was not good at and his weakness was highlighted big time in the 2011/12 Test in Adelaide. Ishant dropped return catches as he had hair in his eyes which blocked his vision. In Antigua, Ishant had redemption as he took the wickets of Kraigg Brathwaite and Shimron Hetmyer caught and bowled.
Ishant's haul continued his fine run in the West Indies as he picked up his third five-wicket haul against them in the Caribbean. The Delhi pacer has 35 wickets in eight Tests at an average of 19 and his maiden 10-wicket haul in Tests came at the Caribbean when he picked up 6/55 and 4/43 in Barbados in 2011. With his brilliant display on day 2, Ishant continues his resurgence in the Test arena, having taken 41 wickets in 11 Tests in 2018 and making a great start in his first Test this year.
