I live in the present, don’t think too much about the future, says Gujarat Titan’s Ishant Sharma

Hyderabad: One of the IPL veterans, Ishant Sharma, says that in Gujarat Titans no one thinks about the caps – Purple or Orange. “The main objective is always to win the game at hand. Do not think too much about the play-offs. We always take pride in someone raising their hand for the team’s cause,” he said.

The Gujarat Titans seasoned campaigner, Ishant, who featured in every single IPL edition since 2008 playing for six different franchises so far, says the team atmosphere in Titans is always chilled.

“In fact, there are no formal team meetings and most of them last for five minutes, but bowlers get the first say in expressing themselves,” Ishant said in the Star Sports Press Room interaction ahead of the Titans’ match against Delhi Capitals.

Reflecting on the success story of opener Sai Sudharsan and left-arm spinner Sai Kishore, the 36-year-old Ishant said they couldn’t have done better. “The focus is always on small impactful performances, seizing on those small moments which help the team’s cause. Like, say, we don’t have six-hitters. We play proper cricketing strokes. I tell you, for a bowler, it is more frustrating if he is for fours with such stroke-play,” he said.

“For instance, Sai Kishore didn’t get enough chances to bowl. But he understands the game better and comes up with those small, impactful performances,” Ishant said.

On his own ability to still bowl at 140-plus consistently, the gangling fast bowler revealed that he had changed his training a bit, worked really hard, developed more skills and now had a new stock ball to surprise the batters.

“Frankly, I live in the present, don’t think too much about the future, even the next game. So, right now I am enjoying every moment on the field,” Ishant said.

“Well, the role of the seniors in the team, including myself or our head coach Ashu bhai (Ashish Nehra) is to share our experiences for better results. We essentially give inputs when needed in a given situation if the regular plan doesn’t work,” the seasoned campaigner said. “Ashu Bhai’s advice to the bowlers is simple – avoid unforced errors, stick to the rhythm,” he added.

Ishant feels that Titans captain Shubman Gill is learning, a very good captain, backs his bowlers and will go a long way for sure.

“I feel a fully fit Bumrah should lead, given his experience, India in England and if not then Gill should be the next best choice,” he said.

On Titans pace duo Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, Ishant revealed that Ashish Nehra’s advice to Siraj was to stick to his stock ball – outswinger, which he used to bowl a lot but of late focussing on wobble seam. “He was advised to stick to the outswinger and then focus on the wobbly seam,” he said.

“With regard to Prasidh, the advice was to strike 4.5 m length on red soil and 5-6m length on black soil and once he feels confident, bowl that yorker,” Ishant said.

“Personally, I don’t have any formal discussions with Ashu bhai about my own bowling. We do discuss a lot for sure,” he said.

On Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket, Ishant said he was surprised because he thought the great India batter would have played till he was 40 given his fitness routine. “But again, Virat is mature enough when to take a call, he knew what he was doing,” he said.

“We (he and Kohli) always have a special bond. He is different to me compared to others because we have been childhood friends, played together since under-17 days, shared rooms, spent match fees on dinners. At the end of the day, he is a normal human being afterall. ‘Chiku’ to me always,” signed off the great fast bowler.