Ishant Sharma discloses chat with Dhoni during 2014 Lord’s Test

Ishant Sharma reveals his chat with Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the 2014 Lord’s Test, which eventually led to India’s victory in the Test match at the Lord’s cricket ground, after a long gap of 28 years.

India was whitewashed in the disastrous 2011 tour with 0-4 and lost its top billing in the ICC’s Test ranking. The following year, England thrashed India with 2-1 win. In a series of loss under MS Dhoni’s captainship, the 2014Test series was nothing short of revenge. This time, MS Dhoni was still in charge, but the team was transitioned altogether.

Mahendra Singh Dhoniled a team of young blood in the Test series. The batting side was packed with young hot-blooded players like Murali Vijay, CheteshwarPujara, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, who were ready to take the victory march for India.

The first Test match in Nottingham was drawn.The Test matcheswere then moved to the Lord’s where Alastair Cook’s England team were expected to make a dent. James Anderson and Stuart Broad kept the Indian team play low to their swing, but a classy century from the blade of Ajinkya Rahane propelled India to 295.

Fast-bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar took six wickets and ensured England to take only a handful score of 25-run in the lead. Bhuvaneshwar Kumar andRavindra Jadeja helped India to set a 300-plus target for the hosts. However, Joe Root and Moeen Ali kept it going for England.

At this stage that captain MS Dhoni asked fast-bowler Ishant Sharma to “pitch the ball short”, and the rest is history, as India won a Test match at Lord’s after a long wait of 28 years.“At the end of the fourth day I had already dismissed Cook and Bell, Mahi Bhai told us that from here no one will think of a draw. Obviously, there was pressure on us on the last day. Moeen Ali and Root were playing bell, so Mahi Bhai asked me to start bowling short as nothing was happening. He told me to bowl short until we take the new ball. Just before lunch,Moeen Ali was dismissed”, revealed Ishant Sharma.

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