Top 5 bowling performances by Ishant Sharma in international cricket

3. 7/58 vs New Zealand (3rd Test, Nagpur, 2010)

Ishant Sharma

Ishant’s spirited performance in the third and final Test of New Zealand’s India tour at Nagpur enabled his side to win the series in grand style after the first two games ended in draws.

In the first innings, the tall fast bowler bagged four wickets as he broke the back of the line-up with his ability to move the ball both ways, using the extra bounce on offer.

He trapped Ross Taylor LBW with one that jagged back into the right-hander after pitching outside off. Next, he deceived skipper Daniel Vettori into a needless pull-shot after sending down an innocuous short and wide delivery outside off; the batsman got a bottom-edge that crashed into his stumps.

He then snared the big wicket of the dangerous Brendon McCullum, forcing the batsman to play off the back foot and getting a thin edge through to Dhoni behind the stumps.

Ishant then wrapped up his spell with a delivery that crashed into Andy McKay’s stumps, thus returning with figures of 4/43 as the Black Caps fell to 193 all out.

After India posted a massive 566, Ishant returned with a vengeance in the second essay; he bowled Kane Williamson first up, took a catch to send back Ryder off Suresh Raina, and then castled both McKay and Chris Martin to subject the Kiwis to a massive innings defeat by 198 runs.

He finished with match figures of 7/58, as India won the series 1-0.