Highlights:
- Ishant Sharma plays his 100th Test Match and shares an emotional message
- Ishant Sharma is the only 2nd fast bowler to have played 100 test matches
- Ishant Sharma was welcomed with a guard of honour on the field
On Wednesday, Indian fast bowler Ishant Sharma reached a milestone that only one other player reached as he began the 100th test match for team India. The fast bowler, who was felicitated by President Ram Nath Kovind and Home Minister Amit Shah on the occasion at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad ahead of the day-night Test against England, took it to social media after the first day’s play to share a message of thanks.
“Words are too less to express my emotions right now!!” he wrote, before thanking the President and the Home Minister for “making it an honourable moment”.
“Thanks to my one and only @pratima0808 for being there right by my side during this special moment,” he wrote, tagging his wife.
“Thank you to my wonderful teammates for the constant support each one of you have given me, and pushed me harder to becoming better,” the pacer added.
“Also last but not the least a token of thanks to India and you all for showering me with all the love always!!” he concluded.
He is the 2nd fast bowler from India who has played 100th Test matches for the country and only 4th bowler overall. The only other fast bowler was Kabvil Dev who has 131 Test matches to his name.
The 4 bowlers who have played 100 test matches for India are:
- Anil Kumble (132)
- Kapil Dev (131)
- Harbhajan Singh (103)
- Ishant Sharma (100)
Ishant, who also went past the 300-wicket mark in Test cricket earlier in the series against England in the England tour of India, also celebrated his 100th Test by getting the first breakthrough for India as he sent Dom Sibley back to the pavilion after the visitors won the toss and opted to bat.
England eventually folded for 112 on the scoreboard with Axar Patel taking 6 wickets and Ravichandran Ashwin picking 3. India finished the day at 99/3, with Rohit Sharma unbeaten having hit a half-century.
On Day Two, the Indian team was sent back to the dressing room with 145 on the scoreboard and India then sent the entire English team with just 81 runs on the board.
India only needs 49 runs to win the test match.