Reflecting on completing 300 Test wickets, at the end of the day’s play, the lanky pacer said, "It's been quite a roller-coaster life. I've had a lot of experience, a lot of mentors who taught me how to bowl in the subcontinent and how to bowl abroad.”
On his fitness, following some tough spells on a good batting pitch in Chennai at the start of the Test, Ishant added, "I'm a bit sore, after bowling 4-over bursts in domestic cricket, and then bowling 35 overs within a gap of just 3-4 days.”
India are chasing an improbable 420 to win the Chennai Test, and have already lost opener Rohit Sharma. However, according to Ishant, India could still win the Test if they start well on Day 5. The 32-year-old added, "If we get a good start tomorrow, we can chase this down, because we have a batting line-up that is fearless and can chase this down, and it's important to look at 381 runs and not 9 wickets.”
Asked about the pitch, Ishant replied, "On the first two days, the pitch was not assisting us and the spinners, it felt like we played on a road, but it started turning later on in Day 4 and it was a lot more responsive then.”
Ravichandran Ashwin claimed 6 for 61 in England’s second innings as the visitors were bowled out for 178. India ended Day 4 on 39 for 1, and need a further 381 on the last day’s play.
--By A Cricket Correspondent
