Discipline was the key, says Ishant

Before the batsmen caned the South Africans to muster a formidable lead, Indian bowlers did a good job to restrict the hosts to 244, winkling out their late order cheaply.

Ishant Sharma, who took four wickets, attributed it to them sticking to a stump-to-stump line.

“I think everyone has a different plan, and may be they thought they were going to bowl outside the off-stump. We were going to bowl into stumps because there will be more help if you bowl into the stumps,” said Ishant in his post-day press conference on Friday.
The lanky pacer said the pitch has started to crack a bit, and that could help the bowlers when they come to bowl in the second innings.

 “I think this was the same kind of track as yesterday. Obviously, cracks are opening up and it’s going to be a little up and down if you are bowling into stumps,” he said.
Ishant also stressed on the importance of hunting as a pack in the second innings to procure another overseas win.

“As fast bowlers we back each other because some days will be  good for someone, and bad for someone else. Touchwood, we bowled well in the first innings. We will try to hunt as a pack when we bowl in the second innings and that’s more important than trying to bowl individually,” he said.

Zaheer Khan has made a return to the Indian side after a gap of nearly one year, and Ishant said the veteran left-arm pacer’s presence helped him and other bowlers.

“It’s nice to have Zak back in the side. The amount of confidence he gives you while your bowling and tells you where you lack is important.’’

 It’s important for fast bowlers to know all these – Shami and myself are still young and we can’t catch all the mistakes while we bowl. So, I think his presence helps us,” he added.