New Delhi (PTI): India paceman Ishant Sharma might have acquired the reputation of bumping off top batsmen like Ricky Ponting but he thanks his stars for not having Sachin Tendulkar as an opponent.
"Sachin Tendulkar is one batsman who is not easy to bowl to. Be it in nets or in the middle, he always bats as if he is playing a match. I am thankful to god that I play in his team. His experience is equal to my age," Ishant said.
The gangling Delhi bowler said besides Tendulkar, Ponting and Hayden were among his favourite batsman.
"Other than Sachin and Ponting, my favourite batsmen are Matthew Hayden and Rahul Dravid," he said.
Ishant said he was trying to bowl fast consistently but also focusing on maintaining the right line and length to trap the batsmen.
"I am trying to bowl at 100 mph but what is more important is which areas I hit. If you get that speed but the delivery is short- or over-pitched and ball goes across the boundary than there is no use of it.
"Instead, if I bowl at 140-145 kph and swing it, batsmen could be in trouble," he told NDTV.
"I know my limitations and try to be in my limits," he added.
The 20-year-old fast bowler also said he did not believe in experimenting in the match and relies on whatever he practised in nets.