Ishant Sharma runs in and bangs it short to team mate Virat Kohli during the nets. On Saturday, playing for ONGC in the in the semi-final of the BCCI’s Corporate trophy, he will test Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa with the shorter delivery. In an interview to The Indian Express, the lanky Indian seamer speaks about his burning ambition to touch the 100 mph mark, his new role as the first-change bowler and improving his economy rate.

Considering there will be non-stop cricket coming up, how did you spend the off-season?

• I was training regularly throughout and I am in prime fitness now. I was at the nets with my coach back in Delhi when others were resting — the idea was to ensure my stock deliveries are intact while I gain confidence to bowl more variations. I also had a good four-day session with Team India and the matches in Corporate Trophy will help me build up for the Sri Lanka tri-series and the Champions Trophy.

You are being prepared to be the first-change bowler in ODIs. How are you responding to the new task?

• I have bowled first change before, so it’s not new to me but yes, bowling first change is difficult. With the new ball, there’s swing as well as bounce off the wicket but when you bowl first change there’s just bounce and it gets easier for the batsman. But since I have the height advantage, I can extract bounce off the wicket and am confident of doing justice to my role in the team. The ball gets a bit softer too but I am hoping that I can be as effective as I am with the new ball.

... contd.