Dominica, July 10: Although he was unable to provide a breakthrough for the Indians on Day 5 of the Dominica Test, Ishant Sharma can take plenty of pride in his performance right through the three-match Test series against the West Indies. His 22-wicket haul gave India crucial wickets and put the West Indies on the back foot in each of the three Tests. The lanky pacer’s efforts, in the absence of senior partner Zaheer Khan, rightly fetched him the coveted Man-of-the-Series award.

“This was the first series [in which] I took the highest number of wickets, so obviously I am feeling happy about it,” said a beaming Ishant on winning the award.

Ishant’s 22 wickets included his first 10-wicket haul in Tests when he finished with figures of 10 for 108 in the second Test match at Bridgetown. He also achieved career best figures of six for 55 during West Indies’ first innings in that Test match.

Speaking on the Dominica wicket, which turned slower as the game progressed, Ishant said, “It’s kind of an Indian track. It was slow and flat. But you still need to put in effort. When the ball is in your hands, you can’t do much about these things. All these things are uncontrollable. So, when you get the ball, just make things happen for you.”

This is Ishant’s second Man-of-the-Series award in Test cricket after he made his debut for India against Bangladesh in May 2007. In the 2008-09 Border-Gavaskar Trophy played in India, Ishant took 15 wickets at an average of 27.06 over the course of four Test matches to earn his first Man-of-the-Series accolade.

Having been chosen for the upcoming England tour, Ishant hopes to turn out a superlative performance on that tour as well.

“I’m feeling confident. Thanks to everyone [because of whom] I got the opportunity to play in this Test series. I’m feeling happy about myself and look forward to the England series as well,” he said at the end of a satisfying Caribbean tour.