With India set to embark upon their South African sojourn on the back of nine straight series wins under Virat Kohli, the five-pronged pace attack chosen in the 17-man squad has generated a buzz unprecedented in Indian cricket
With India set to embark upon their South African sojourn on the back of nine straight series wins under Virat Kohli, the five-pronged pace attack chosen in the 17-man squad has generated a buzz unprecedented in Indian cricket. Two from that quintet, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma have made the Sri Lankan batsmen hop, skip and jump, threatening both the outside edge of the bat and their bodies with their searing pace on a placid Feroz Shah Kotla pitch.
Ishant Sharma
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"Both bowled at a quick pace because those of us standing in the slip cordon can feel that pace," local boy Shikhar Dhawan told reporters at the Feroz Shah Kotla. Shami was particularly menacing during his short burst late on Day Four. He rattled opener Sadeera Samarawickrama with a short ball that whizzed past his nose, before hurling another bumper that the batsmen couldn't avoid and consequently gloved to wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha.
Splendid Shami
Shami had also nearly bowled India to an improbable victory in tandem with Bhuvneshwar Kumar in fading light at the Eden Gardens in the series opener.Ishant too, has been impressive since his return to the side in Nagpur where he picked a match-haul of five for 80. Here on his home ground in Delhi, he bagged another three wickets in the first innings, notwithstanding the catches that were dropped off his bowing in the slip cordon. "This showcases their (Shami and Ishant) mindset and fighting abilities.
With India set to embark upon their South African sojourn on the back of nine straight series wins under Virat Kohli, the five-pronged pace attack chosen in the 17-man squad has generated a buzz unprecedented in Indian cricket. They know that there isn't much help from the wicket. It's a paata (flat track), but they've bowled with a lot of pace, it's good for them," added Dhawan.
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