Indian pacer Ishant Sharma has become one of the side's most prolific pacers, especially in the longest format of late. Owing to his prolonged success in the format, he has played 99 Tests.
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As India is battling England in a four-Test series for the Anthony de Mello Trophy, after a 1-1 tie in Chennai, the series has now moved to Ahmedabad for the final two Tests. Meanwhile, the third Test is set to be a day-night affair, as Ishant looks set to retain his spot in the side, which would mark his 100th Test.
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Speaking on the same, Ishant says that his focus is not on the number of Tests he plays but perform in the Test he features in, while he is also not concerned about surpassing former Indian pacer Kapil Dev's record of 131 Tests. "If you think of it in a positive way, then it gets easier and is better that I performed in one format. You are grateful. This is also why I am playing the 100th Test. But, I don't think that if I had played white-ball cricket, I wouldn't have played 100 Test matches. I am just 32. Maybe, I wouldn't have done it so quickly. I would have done it later," he said ahead of the game, reports IANS.
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"I don't really think too far ahead because you never know what comes next. You just think about one game at a time. I have understood my body and what kind of training I need to do. I am more professional regarding my recovery. Earlier, I used to train very hard, but I never used to think about my recovery. Now though, I know that as you grow older, you have to bowl long spells. You need to look after your recovery. I am looking after myself. I think that is paying off," he added.
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Ishant also feels that he would have already attained the feat in Australia by now had it not been for the side strain he suffered. "I would have loved to go to Australia and complete my 100th Test match. But, there are many things that are not in your hand. I couldn't go to Australia because of that. The quicker you forget things and move on, the more things become simple in life. This is what I have learnt in my career. Forget everything and move on and don't think about past. I move on to the next match. And, I always focus on the next match," he reckoned.
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Nonetheless, Ishant is solely focused on winning the series, as India eyes the final spot in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship. "At the moment, the next target is to win the next game. I just want to win the next game and qualify for the Test championship final. As I always say, I have only one format to play and this is like World Cup. The World Test Championship is like a World Cup for me. If we reach the final and win this, I think I will have the same feeling like you play the ICC World Cup final or the Champions Trophy," he concluded.
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