Ishant says India has the firepower in bowling

BRISBANE: Ishant Sharma might have missed out being part of India's win against Australia in the Commonwealth Bank Series final Tuesday, but the rookie fast bowler has certainly emerged as India's find of the gruelling tour Down Under.

Ishant has not only added to India's growing fast-bowling pool, but has emerged as the strike bowler in the absence of Zaheer Khan and R P Singh. The lanky Delhi bowler generated pace that Indian bowlers were not known to possess.

Ishant troubled one of the best batsmen of the world, Ricky Ponting, time and again in the series and dismissed him too.

"Earlier, every one used to say that India has no fast bowler. But with (S) Sreesanth, Munaf (Patel), Praveen (Kumar) doing well, we can show the world that we have fast bowlers who can perform well," he said.

"We all are really happy winning the series. The atmosphere in the dressing room is terrific. We wanted to win and nothing could be better," Sharma, who missed the match because of a finger injury, said.

Sharma, in the absence of Zaheer and R.P.Singh, spearheaded the India attack in the tri-series exhibiting maturity beyond his age.

"I always wanted to be a strike bowler for India. It has been my dream and I am happy that it has come true," he said.