India’s veteran pacer, Ishant Sharma, has explained the success of the Indian team’s bowling under the leadership of Virat Kohli, as they saw a historic transformation in the pace unit across the world, and it changed how they became the pace revolution from the spin team in the five-day format of the game.

Speaking during an exclusive chat with Sports Tak, Ishat explained the biggest change under Kohli was the understanding of the roles, mindset, and planning, as he was helped by the other fast bowlers—Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and later the premier pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, who made his debut under Virat Kohli.

See Also: “Flight booked for…”- Suryakumar Yadav breaks silence on Pakistan forfeiting India clash in T20 World Cup 2026

“When Umesh and Shami first came in, they were young and still learning. But by the time Virat became captain, they were settled. Then Bhuvneshwar Kumar joined, and later Jasprit Bumrah. Suddenly, we had a full fast-bowling attack.” Ishant expressed in the interview.

Ishant Sharma sheds light on India’s pace bowling growth

According to the Delhi Pacer, Kohli made sure that every bowler would know where they stand in the team, and whenever they would be playing at home or overseas, the plan would always be decided for each and every bowler, which made a massive change in their planning and tactics later on in their careers.

Watch the video here: 

Ishant Sharma का खुलासा: 'फास्ट बॉलर अगर गुंडा नहीं होगा तो बॉलिंग नहीं कर पाएगा'

'सबसे बड़ गुंडा तो ईशांत है… मानो मत मानो… ऑफ द फील्ड, ऑन द फील्ड सबसे बड़ा गुंडा है भाई…'
मोहित शर्मा, पूर्व भारतीय क्रिकेटर#SalaamCricket2026 #T20WorldCup | @y_umesh | @VikrantGupta73 pic.twitter.com/UaahAJO1nG

— AajTak (@aajtak) February 5, 2026

Ishant also recalled the moment from the 2015 Sri Lanka tour that perfectly summed up the aggressive thinking of Kohli, as he was not afraid of fast bullets conceding runs as long as they were attacking and looking to take wickets in winning the contest.

“If we were playing overseas, these three fast bowlers would play. In India, these two would play. Everything was communicated clearly beforehand. That kind of clarity builds confidence. Before one test match, Virat told me, ‘Even if you go for 20 runs in five overs, I don’t mind. Just think about taking wickets. Don’t only try to stop runs with the new ball.” Ishant addressed it during the same interaction on Aaj Tak.

After seven rounds of the group stage of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26, the competition has finally got its eight teams who will log on between themselves in the four quarterfinals before getting promoted into the two semi-finals of the event.

In the bowling department, Uttar Pradesh’s Zeeshan Ansari ended as the joint leading wicket taker with Satyanarayana Raju of Andhra Pradesh, with 21 wickets in seven innings.

A look at the top 5 bowling performances from Day 7 of Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025/26

1.   Shivang Kumar (Madhya Pradesh)

The young left-arm wrist spinner of Madhya Pradesh, Shivam Kumar, locked horns against Karnataka in the last group-stage round of competition, where he ended up with five wickets in his 10-over spell at a fine economy rate of 4.5, including the vital wickets of Smaran Ravichandran, Shreyas Gopal, and Abhinav Manohar.

Shivam was signed by the Sunrisers Hyderabad for a base price of INR 30 lakh in the IPL 2026 auction, which now seems to be a smart pick by the IPL 2016 Champions. Against Gopal, Shivam bowled a perfect delivery that pitched outside the leg stump of the right-handed batter and spun to beat the batter’s edge and hit the top of off stump.

Brief Score: Madhya Pradesh 208/3 (Venkatesh Iyer 65*, Vidyadhar Patil 1/24) beat Karnataka 207 (Mayank Agarwal 49, Shivam Kumar 5/45) by 7-wickets.

2.   Eden Apple Tom (Kerala)

 The Kerala pacer. Eden Apple Tom, who made his debut in List A cricket last year, has struggled in the 50-over domestic format at an economy rate of over seven. However, during the clash against Tamil Nadu in Ahmedabad, he was excellent with the right line and length to pick up six wickets in his nine-over spell for 46 runs.

See Also: Hardik Pandya celebrates 19-ball 50 vs Chandigarh during Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26

His wickets included the opponent captain and wicket-keeper batter, Narayan Jagadishan, who drilled a fine knock of 139 runs in 126 balls as Tamil Nadu made their way to 294 for the loss of eight wickets in 50 overs. Eden bowls with the slingy action and makes it quite hard for the batter to adjust to this release point, as he needs to work more on his consistency.

Brief Scores: Tamil Nadu 294/8 (Narayan Jagadeesan 139, Eden Apple Tom 6/46) beat Kerala 217 (Rohan Kunnummal 73, Mohammad Ali 4/36) by 77 runs.

3.   Sushant Mishra (Jharkhand)

India is in need of a left-arm seamer in ODI cricket apart from Arshdeep Singh. And Jharkhand Sushant Mishra has knocked on the door with a consistent performance in the ongoing 50-over domestic performance, as he came into the last round group stage with nine wickets in the previous five games.

Against Goa, the 25-year-old ended up with six wickets in his 10-over spell for 52 runs, including wickets of the top four batters. He cleaned up the top three of the opposition inside the first five overs before coming back to break the 258-run partnership to send back Sridam Paul, who made 150 in the innings.

Brief Scores: Tripura 320 (Sridam Paul 150, Rajat Dey 102, Sushant Mishra 6/52) beat Jharkhand 123 (Manishi 40, Abhijit Sarkar 4/40) by 197 runs.

4.   Gurnoor Brar (Punjab)

When Mumbai bundled out Punjab for just 216, it was expected to be an easy chase for the massive batting lineup, which was decorated with Shivam Dube, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Sarfraz Khan, and Musheer Khan. But Punjab held their nerves and kept picking wickets for the entire second innings.

Both Gurnoor Brar and Mayank Markande picked up four-wicket hauls, but the former’s four wickets were massive as they came against the top four batters, including Sky and Dube. Brar ended with a fine figure of four for 57 while Markande picked up four wickets for 31 runs as Punjab completed the victory by one run to bundle out Mumbai for 215 in 26.2 overs.

Brief Scores: Punjab 216 (Anmolpreet Singh 57, Musheer Khan 3/37) beat Mumbai 215 (Sarfaraz Khan 62, Mayank Markande 4/31, Gurnoor Brar 4/57) by 1 run.

5.   Ishant Sharma (Delhi)

At the BCCI Center of Excellence in Bengaluru, Delhi delivered a heroic bowling performance against Haryana to bundle out the opposition for 105 runs inside 26 overs as the veteran pacer Ishant Sharma ended with three wickets for 17 runs in his seven overs. 

He was well supported by Navdeep Saini and Prince Yadav, both of whom also picked up three wickets in their respective bowling, before Delhi completed the chase inside 14 overs by 9 wickets in hand as Nitish Rana remained unbeaten on 57 runs in just 39 balls.

Brief Scores: Delhi 107/1 (Nitish Rana 57*, Anuj Thakrai 1/30) beat Haryana 105 (Ashish Siwach 33, Ishant Sharma 3/17) by 9-wickets. 

Virat Kohli turns 37 today. Social media platforms are flooding with 'Happy Birthday Virat Kohli' posts. Active cricketers, former cricketers, IPL franchises, and cricket-loving fans... all wished the legend of Indian cricket on this special day. Through this article, we will only try to find out some of the social media posts shared by active and former cricketers wishing Virat Kohli well.

Active players like Jitesh Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal shared some of their memorable photos with Virat and wished him a very happy birthday. Former cricketers like Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Munaf Patel, Vinay Nagar, Aakash Chopra, Adam Gilchrist, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ishant Sharma also did not forget to wish the iconic batter on November 5. 

Yuvaraj Singh shared a heart-touching video with the caption, "Once a king, always a king. Happy birthday, Virat Kohli. Sending you lots of love for a great year ahead. Stay blessed!" 

Read More: WATCH: Jemimah Rodrigues’ father reveals how MS Dhoni’s influence helped for Women's World Cup 2025 preparations

Countless birthday wishes for Virat Kohli on social media platforms

As the cricket fans know, Ishant Sharma and Virat Kohli are childhood friends. Like the previous years, this year too Ishant shared a special post for his dear friend. 

Happy Birthday Virat bhaiya. You’ve inspired me and a whole generations with your passion and spirit. Through every triumph and challenge, our respect for you has only grown stronger, Keep smiling @imVkohli bhaiya. pic.twitter.com/IARPei2KJo

— Jitesh Sharma (@jiteshsharma55) November 5, 2025

To the man with fierce spirit, the heart that beats for every challenge, May you continue to inspire generations to come.
God bless and Happy Birthday Virat bhaiya 🫂🤍 🎂 pic.twitter.com/c6HT7jiXiN

— Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal) November 5, 2025

Happy Birthday, Virat Bhai 🎂♥️
Keep shining and inspiring always. @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/whc27zz8ab

— Kuldeep yadav (@imkuldeep18) November 5, 2025

Once a King, always a King 👑 Happy birthday @imVkohli 🎂 Sending you lots of love for a great year ahead. Stay blessed! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/9DhcCFS6DS

— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) November 5, 2025

King Kohli turns 37! 🎂🏏 @imVkohli Celebrating the incredible journey of Virat Kohli, a true legend of Indian cricket! Wishing him a year filled with more records, victories, and joy! 🙏💕 #HappyBirthdayViratKohli pic.twitter.com/DCUx8QDlch

— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) November 5, 2025

Happy birthday @imVkohli …Have a great day and wishing you the best for the year ahead! pic.twitter.com/i1BDj98EEX

— Cheteshwar Pujara (@cheteshwar1) November 5, 2025

Happy Birthday Virat Kohli!

India ke liye aur bhi virat pariyan baki hain aur hume unka intezar! Have a wonderful year head 👑 pic.twitter.com/S8bmxXdqLT

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 5, 2025

Happy birthday, Virat.

Have a magnificent year ahead, wishing you best for your career. ❤ pic.twitter.com/jhO5GWoN7T

— Adam Gillchrist (@adam_gilly98) November 5, 2025

Wishing you a Very Happy Birthday @imVkohli #HappyBirthday #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/a9OaKL4D3e

— Munaf Patel (@munafpa99881129) November 5, 2025

Happy birthday chase master. May your day be filled with love, laughter, and happiness. Have a great one 🎂#HappyBirthdayViratKohli pic.twitter.com/Uraxa0Cs0w

— Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R) November 5, 2025

Ishant Sharma never forgets to wish him on time. The best bond ever 🤍#HappyBirthdayViratKohli pic.twitter.com/zAVUn0ZPlW

— ` (@chixxsays) November 5, 2025

Kohli defined modern cricket with his skillful batting and aggression on the pitch. Unlike relying on some of the crazy shots of modern cricket, the right-handed batter still can score runs at a quick pace with a straight bat. In T20Is, he played 125 matches for Team India to score 4188 runs at an average of 48.69. In tests, the batting maestro featured in 123 matches, accumulating 9230 runs in total at a batting average of 46.85. His batting stats are more eye-catching in the One Day International format, where his batting average is 57.71 after playing 305 games.

Former India pacer Ishant Sharma recently opened up in a podcast during the Asia Cup 2025, sharing his views on the game and his journey. The 37-year-old, who last represented India in 2021 against New Zealand in a home Test series, continues to stay connected with the sport.

One of India’s most successful fast bowlers, Ishant stands as the country’s sixth-highest wicket-taker in Tests, with 311 scalps in 105 matches, including 11 five-wicket hauls. Beyond the red-ball format, he featured in 94 limited-overs games for India, bagging 123 wickets across ODIs and T20Is.

Although his last ODI appearance came back in 2016, Ishant has kept himself relevant in domestic cricket. He remains an active figure across formats, while also contributing in franchise cricket, most recently turning out for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025. His longevity highlights his determination and passion for the game, even without a national comeback.

See Also: 5-wicket haul for Manav Suthar ahead of BCCI's squad announcement for IND vs WI Test series

Some Important Remarks by Ishant Sharma in his Latest Appearance:

During his appearance on the Raj Shamani podcast, Ishant Sharma touched upon a range of subjects, from cricketing experiences to personal insights. The veteran pacer, who has been part of several historic moments for Indian cricket, didn’t shy away from expressing his honest opinions.

Across the conversation, he shared perspectives not just on the game but also on life off the field. From his journey as a fast bowler to reflections on challenges and the evolving landscape of cricket, Ishant offered plenty of takeaways. Here’s a closer look at five key remarks he made during the candid chat.

• Battling Depression After the Setback of 2013

Ishant Sharma’s 2013 season with Team India was a mix of highs and lows. The senior pacer played a crucial part in India’s Champions Trophy triumph in England, where his breakthroughs and discipline stood out in key moments.

But the joy didn’t last long. Later that year, during the ODI series against Australia at home, Ishant faced one of the most difficult phases of his career. With the series evenly poised at 1-1, India looked set to take the lead before disaster struck in the 48th over.

Defending 44 off 18 balls, Ishant conceded a shocking 30 runs, as James Faulkner hammered him all around the park. Australia pulled off a dramatic chase and went 2-1 up in the seven-match series. Ishant’s figures of 1/63 in eight overs drew heavy criticism, and he was subsequently dropped for the rest of the series, marking one of his lowest points in international cricket.

He said, “ I went into depression for a month. Not depression exactly but I used to cry every day. I was dating Pratima at that time. I shared my feelings with her that I could not with my parents as well.”

He further said, “ She is not only my wife but like my best friend. I used to call her and cry that the team lost because of me. Then we went to South Africa. I did not play the first two one-days and played the third. I was in my shell and was not able to move on.”

• Missing Out on His Biggest Career Dream

Ishant Sharma candidly reflected on his unfulfilled dream of becoming the highest wicket-taker in Test history. Having burst onto the scene at just 18, his early promise suggested he could chase down Muttiah Muralitharan’s monumental 800 wickets.

However, inconsistent phases, injuries, and his absence from the national side since 2021 have curtailed that ambition. Despite his longevity and experience, the milestone now seems well out of reach for the veteran pacer.

He added, “ I mean, there were two or three things. My goal was something else which I couldn’t achieve, like I wanted to have the most wickets in Test cricket. But nothing happens, right? Life hasn’t ended; life has just started. Okay fine, I couldn’t do it, I couldn’t do it. It’s a different thing.”

At present, Ishant holds 311 Test wickets, placing him 34th on the all-time list. Among Indian fast bowlers, he sits joint-second, underscoring his significant but incomplete legacy in red-ball cricket.

• The Nightwatchman Tale Featuring MS Dhoni

Ishant Sharma shared an interesting memory from the iconic 2010 Mohali Test against Australia, where MS Dhoni wanted him to act as the nightwatchman. Though Ishant was hesitant, the role eventually became a defining moment of the match.

Known more for his bowling than batting, Ishant displayed remarkable resilience in the fourth innings. He scored 31 runs from 92 deliveries and stitched together a crucial 81-run stand with VVS Laxman for the ninth wicket. Their partnership played a massive role in securing India’s nail-biting one-wicket victory in a classic encounter.

He said, “ In that match, I was suffering from a knee ache. So I had taken injections. Every session, I took an injection. I was asked to go in as a nightwatchman. I told MS Dhoni, 'My legs are hurting. Please send Zaheer Khan.' He said, 'No, you go and bat'. I said, 'I don't openly talk about it, but it is really hurting' because I had taken injections and bowled as well. I had taken three wickets in the second innings as well. He then agreed.”

Earlier in the same Test, Ishant had already taken up the nightwatchman role, walking in at No. 4 and grinding out 18 runs off 56 balls. While unexpected, his batting contributions in both innings left a lasting mark on the game and showcased his determination in pressure situations.

• Ishant Sharma Names the Wicket He Cherishes Most

Ishant Sharma shared that one of the most memorable wickets of his career came against Travis Head during the 2018-19 Test opener in Adelaide. With the game finely balanced and Australia chasing 323, every breakthrough mattered.

Australia slipped to 84/4 before Head steadied things with a fighting stand alongside Peter Handscomb. Just as the partnership threatened to grow, Ishant struck with a sharp bouncer that forced Head’s dismissal at a vital moment. The breakthrough proved to be a game-changer.

He said, “ I’ll tell you about Travis Head. I got him out in the first Test match (2018-19 BGT). They were chasing, and he was playing well, handling it steadily and controlling the game. At the end of the day’s play, Bharat Arun, our bowling coach, and I were sitting and talking. He used to call me ‘Cardi,’ which is a South Indian thing. Then he asked me, “Cardi, what do you think about Travis Head?”

He added, “ I said, “Pajji, I’ll bowl the first two overs on fuller length, then in the third over, on the fourth or fifth ball, I’ll bowl a bouncer. Then he’ll get out.” When he had settled in, thinking I was just bowling normally, I bowled that exact bouncer in the same over, and he got out. That’s exactly how it happened.”

India eventually closed out the match with a 31-run win, taking the lead in the series. That scalp remains close to Ishant’s heart as it came in a historic campaign where India went on to register their maiden Test series win in Australia.

• Shocking Insight into Gautam Gambhir’s Career

Ishant Sharma shared that current India head coach Gautam Gambhir was one of his strongest supporters during his domestic cricket days with Delhi. He also highlighted the encouragement he received from Gambhir’s longtime opening partner, Virender Sehwag, which helped him navigate the challenges of professional cricket.

He further said, “ There have been different seniors at different stages. When I was playing Ranji Trophy, Gautam Gambhir supported me the most. Then Virender Sehwag. When I played for India, there were so many big names in the dressing room that you were unsure about whom to speak to. You wanted someone with you when you were having a meal in places like Australia and South Africa”

He concluded, “ I approached Sehwag and he said, 'What are you tense about? Let's go'. Sehwag is the kind of senior everyone should get because he is very supportive. If he sees talent in a player, he will make sure that player gets to play.”

The trio—Ishant, Gambhir, and Sehwag—played key roles in shaping India’s dominance in Test cricket during the late 2000s. Their combined efforts and consistent performances were instrumental in India achieving the top spot in the ICC Test rankings. Ishant’s reflections underline the importance of mentorship and support from senior players in building confidence and contributing to team success.

Ishant Sharma recently featured in a Raj Shamani podcast, where he discussed openly various topics of cricket, precisely Indian cricket. During the conversation, the star pacer was asked who is the most exciting young batter in Indian cricket. Sharma, without making any delay, named Yashasvi Jaiswal as the most talented young batter Indian cricket currently has. Ishant also explained why he specially chose Jaiswal as the top most young batsman.

At the age of 37, Ishant bowled promisingly in the previous season of the Indian Premier League for Gujarat Titans. In that season, he got to bowl against multiple young batters, including Vaibhav Suryavanshi. But he chose Yashasvi Jaiswal over any other young batsman. Sharma paid a focus on Uttar Pradesh-born's background. The fast bowler said that Jaiswal has nothing to lose. From the background he belongs to, he witnessed the roughness. So he knows how to tackle hard situations. 

"Toughness—he (Yashasvi Jaiswal) has the natural toughness for his background. When someone has nothing to lose, they can play freely. Pressure on personal performance can be there; once he overcomes that hurdle, that day he will play for the team, not for personal glories. Many people talk about gains and losses; in reality, there is nothing to lose or nothing to gain," Ishant Sharma explained. 

Read More: Bangladesh cricket team in massive trouble for new UAE Visa policy? Know details

Yashasvi Jaiswal has definitely something: Ishant Sharma 

He added, "He built himself from scratch and is now playing at this level. He definitely has something that takes him to the stage. If he does not have the capability, then he would not be able to reachthis level."

Yashasvi Jaiswal has played 24 matches and scored 2209 runs at an amazing batting average of 50.20. In these number of matches, he smashed 6 hundreds and twelve 50s to decorate his stats. In T20Is, the southpaw, in 23 matches, collected 723 runs powered by five 50s and one 100 to take his batting average to 36.15.

Watch the part of the conversation here

Ishant Sharma on Yashasvi Jaiswal's struggle and telling him as the most impressive youngster in recent times✨💪[Raj Shamani] pic.twitter.com/C0PfxJWAaI

— Starboy ✨ YBJ (@starboyybj) September 24, 2025

The former Indian bowler, Ishant Sharma, has criticized the fans for showing their bias towards the unselected players during any squad announcement for a series or a competition. He reckoned that selectors go through a hard job of not only picking a player but leaving a player, who is also tremendous in that very job.

During the Asia Cup 2025, many reckoned that the selectors made a wrong decision by bringing Shubman Gill into the squad while leaving Shreyas Iyer, who was in superb form during the IPL 2025 for the Punjab Kings (PBKS) with the bat and in the leadership department.

See Also: [WATCH] Rinku Singh and Suryakumar Yadav engaged in hilarious banter on '10RS ka biscuit' as video goes viral

‘See, the funda is very simple in our country. Those who get selected are bad, and those who don’t are bad. They don’t talk about those who get selected. They talked about Shreyas Iyer getting into the side, but in whose place. You can actually tell the ICC that they had more players and wanted to take 20 players in place of 15.” Ishant expressed during a recent podcast.

Watch: Ishat Sharma criticizes people’s bias for selected players

Gill smashed 35 runs in three innings during the group stage of the event, while against Pakistan in the Super 4 stage of the tournament, the right-handed batter clubbed 47 runs in Dubai. His partnership for the opening wicket with Abhishek Sharma was incredible as Ishant shed light on this discussion.

True words by Ishant Sharma the players who don’t get selected are seen as good & the ones who do get picked are considered bad.
Shreyas Iyer’s fans were outraging over his nonselection in the Asia Cup, but not even once they point out the right player. They were just after Gill. pic.twitter.com/0EdEZAduxC

— LaPulga (@LAPULGA_11) September 23, 2025

“These things are really hard to understand. Yes, you are a fan of an individual. But the most thankless job is that of a selector. Because he has undoubtedly selected one player, but the one he has left out, like Shreyas, is a class player. But again, in whose place would he come? Fans get upset, but cricket doesn’t stop for anybody.” The Delhi-born addressed.

“How can you do favoritism. Numbers are there. Those who are performing are playing, and those who don’t are not getting selected. As I said, people talk about those players who don’t get selected in the squad.” Ishant Sharma concluded that India is just one win away from qualifying for the final of the Asia Cup.

September 2, 1988- birthday of Indian pacer Ishant Sharma, who was once considered the successor of Zaheer Khan. The 6 ft 4 inch tall bowler with long hair and smooth bowling action was meant to be a fast bowler who played over 100 Test matches for team India.

After making a Test debut in May 2007, Sharma quickly became a sensation in the world of cricket. From late 2007 to 2008, Ishant bowled promisingly, especially against Australia. His first Test 5-wicket haul was against Pakistan in Bengaluru, and then he claimed another 5-wicket stat during a game against South Africa. Three matches later, Ishant captured 7 wickets in Bengaluru; this time the victim was the Australia cricket team.

But somehow, the pacer couldn't hold his momentum and started to drop form along with bowling speed. The right-handed pacer's career graph barely remained on the summit according to his potential. With lots of ups and downs, he again and again repackaged himself and delivered on pitch. When he completed 50 tests in early 2013, he had among the worst averages for bowlers with 50 test caps to their name, but the following year he was instrumental in India's famous Test win at Lord's, taking a career-best 7 for 74 in the match.

Read More: 'Neither the strike rate nor the average looks very good...'- Former India cricketer's strong statements on star cricketer Ahead of Asia Cup 2025

He could have offer more

The fast bowlers' last few Test matches with India against New Zealand and England were full of disappointments. Ishant played his last Test match on November 25, 2021. A year later, he was an important figure in demolishing Sri Lanka in their homeland. 

In 105 tests, Ishant Sharma picked up 311 wickets, and in 80 ODIs, he took 115 scalps at an economy rate of 5.72, while in 14 T20Is, he got only 8 wickets. 

Ishant Sharma and Virat Kohli have played a lot of cricket together for team India. Not only the international cricket, both the players take back their friendship back to Delhi days where they player for the Union Territory together. Subsequently, the duo have lot of stories to share to their fans about the camaraderie, one addition to the folklore came in the recent edition of IPL.

Ishant playing for Delhi was bowling to Virat Kohli of Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Virat had hit back to back sixes to Ishant and followed it up with a cheeky smile. But it was now turn of Ishant to give back and he did so as Virat nicked the next ball to the wicketkeeper’s gloves. What followed next was an absolute example of friends teasing each other.

"When Virat Kohli hit a six at me, it was a very good ball, but only Virat could have hit a six on that. Then he hit six again, and after that, I got him out & I tease him. Then we both laughed about it. But that's the friendship and love between us,” said Ishant.

See Also: "Mohammed Siraj did it but..."- Former India star comments on Jasprit Bumrah's criticism after ENG vs IND 2025 Test series

RCB end 18 year drought with trophy win

Though Delhi failed to reach the playoffs of the Indian Premier League 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru were on song in the season. They almost outclassed every team and reached the finals of the tournament to face the Punjab Kings. They eventually won the finals by 6 runs and lifted their maiden IPL trophy and ended the drought of 18 years.

Jasprit Bumrah, the world’s No. 1 Test bowler, is once again leading India’s bowling attack in the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford. On Day 3, he got his first wicket by dismissing Jamie Smith, who was looking dangerous. Smith edged the ball to keeper Dhruv Jurel, who took a clean catch.

With that wicket, Bumrah created history. He is now the first Indian bowler to take 50 Test wickets in England against the home team. This is just his 1th Test in England, making the achievement even more special.

Bumrah now has his eyes on Ishant Sharma’s record of 51 Test wickets in England. If he takes two more wickets in this match, he will go past Ishant and become India’s most successful Test bowler on English soil. That’s not all. Bumrah could also become the top Asian bowler in England. Right now, that record is held by Pakistan legend Wasim Akram, who took 53 wickets in England. Bumrah needs just four more wickets to beat that mark.

There’s one more big milestone waiting. If Bumrah takes another five-wicket haul in this match, he will have 12 five-wicket hauls in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia). That would break Wasim Akram’s record of 11. With two five-wicket hauls already in this series, Bumrah has a golden chance to create more history and show why he’s one of the best fast bowlers in the world today.

ALSO READ: Joe Root Breaks Don Bradman's Record, Proves He's One of the Greatest in Test History

 Most Test Wickets for India Against England (England)

Short inlength, aggressive, on the body. Ishant Sharma delivered one of the most memorable spells as a fast bowler in the history of India's Test cricket. Ishant's 7-wicket haul destroyed Alastair Cook's struggling England and broke the jinx at the Lord's cricket ground.

July 21, 2014 marked the end of 28 years of waiting for Team India. After 1986, the men in the Blue Brigade pulled off a stunning victory at the 'home of cricket' and their first away win in three years. The tall India pacer's 7 for 74 encouraged India to a 95-run win.

England, well positioned, chose to play one after another reckless shots, which caused them to lose a series of wickets, and in the end, all wickets were down. From 173 for 4 to 223 all out, England's batting explained how senseless batting could drain all the auspicious possibilities.

Read More: When MS Dhoni walked in at 8/4 and top-scored with a fighting 71 in ENG vs IND 2014 Old Trafford Test

Credit goes to few other cricketers as well

If Ishant Sharma's 7-wicket spell is considered the best from India, then Ajinkya Rahane's century in the first innings is marked as the best in the first phase of the game. Rahane's 103-run innings remained as one of his finest knocks throughout his entire career. Ravindra Jadeja's (68) half century also behaved like a catalyst. It was Jadeja's maiden Test half-century in his Test career, and after that, he displayed his own sword celebrations for the first time. 

"Memorable win for us, not many players have played Test cricket in England, their approach was brilliant, it was a fantastic performance", MS Dhoni, then the captain of Team India said after the infamous victory. 

"That last over before lunch, Ishant did not really want to bowl short, I was like, 'You have to bowl it', I turned the other way round. He got his wicket and then it gave him the confidence to keep bowling short, keep attacking the batsman. I think it was a fantastic performance."