Encouragement from Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri has been very helpful: Karn Sharma

Karn Sharma

You generally do not expect teams to announce their playing XIs a day before the beginning of a Test match. Australia, however, had no issue doing so, with Mitchell Johnson being quite happy to reveal the combination they were going with yesterday itself.

For India, MS Dhoni’s unavailability was the only news that was made public prior to the start of the Test. Everybody expected India to go in with Ravichandran Ashwin as their lone spinner, but instead Karn Sharma was picked and that raised quite a few eyebrows.

The leg-spinner from Meerut had a nervy first day as a Test cricketer, conceding 89 runs in 23 overs and taking the solitary wicket of David Warner.

Interestingly, Karn wasn’t informed until the morning of the match that he would be making his debut for India in the first Test. Expectedly, he was happy to have got the chance.

"I just got to know this morning that I will be making my debut," Karn said.

I had this confidence that I will get a chance sooner or later on this tour. But getting it in the first match itself is very good for me," he said.

Support staff and captain have been very helpful: Karn

Praising the role played by Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli, Karn added that he received a lot of encouragement from all the support staff and that Kohli had given him encouragement to stick to his strengths while bowling.

"Mentally and technically, Ravi Shastri helps a lot. All our support staff and coaches are also helping me. They give me confidence that I must continue to bowl the way I have been.

“Skipper Virat Kohli told me previously to bowl the way I bowl and he will give the field according to my strengths," he added.

Karn, who plays for the Railways in the Ranji Trophy, said that he was happy to contribute to the team’s cause and he wasn’t trying to do anything fancy out there in the middle.

"Basically my aim is to bowl good line and length. This is what I bowl in T20 cricket and ODIs. I just want to continue to do that. Getting hit is a part and parcel of the game.

“I am happy that I broke a crucial partnership and I just want to continue doing that," Karn remarked.

Karn was brought into the attack by Kohli during the 18th over itself, but the 27-year-old wasn't overly perturbed by the responsibility of being given the ball so early on in the innings.

"I tried bowling like I have been in domestic cricket,” he said.

"It doesn't change whether it is Australia, England or West Indies. I always try to bowl that way. You have to control your nerves when you play for your country.”

We need to get them out early tomorrow: Karn

India had a good final session where they picked up 4 wickets and Karn said that they would be looking to bowl the Aussies out quickly on Wednesday.

"It was very good for us that we came back in the last session. We just want to continue that in the morning tomorrow and get crucial wickets.

“This pitch is good for batting, there is neither turn nor bounce, but it should take some turn from day three or four. If we take three-four wickets early morning tomorrow, then it will be good for us," he said.

He also said that the emotional tribute that was given to Phillip Hughes at the start of the day’s play did have an effect on the Indian team.

"Of course it did. There were pictures of him all over the stadium and it was a very emotional day," he said.