Ishant looked a different bowler with the new ball: Dhoni

Gros Islet (St Lucia):

He was off-colour during the IPL and World Twenty20, but Ishant Sharma looked impressive in his short spell on Sunday and India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni feels a disciplined approach coupled with little assistance from the pitch did the trick for the pacer.

Handed with the responsibility of opening the attack in the washed out fourth and final ODI against West Indies here on Sunday, Ishant was bang on target from the word go and sent packing hosts' captain Chris Gayle for duck in the second ball of the innings.

He gave away just 17 runs in his four overs which earned him the accolades of his captain.

"He (Ishant) was concentrating more on what he needs to do rather than looking at the batsman. Today he was bowling in the right areas and there was a bit help in the pitch for the fast bowlers.

"In the earlier matches he was bowling one change but today he looked a totally different bowler with the new ball," Dhoni said off Ishant after India won the four-match series 2-1.

"Throughout the series if you see we batted first because there was something on offer for the fast bowlers," he added.

With this victory, India has registered a hat-trick of series wins overseas having beaten Sri Lanka 4-1 and New Zealand 3-1 in their own backyard.

"It's a pleasure to win series out of the country. The bowlers have took the initiative, we have very good bowling attack and the youngsters who came in and got a chance have proved themselves. I think we really have a very good side," Dhoni said.

Dhoni also lauded his deputy Yuvraj Singh and said the stylish left-hander was the backbone of the team's batting. "He is the backbone of our batting line. Coming in at number four he always takes up the responsibility and sets up the platform for the batsmen down the order to contribute.

"When he sets himself up, you can rest assure he is in for a big score," he said.

Meanwhile, West Indies captain Gayle said he was disappointed to have not got a chance to level the series. "We are very disappointed to have lost the series but you can't really do anything in such weather conditions," he said.

"We are looking forward to Bangladesh right now. We need to go back to the drawing board ahead of that series.

"Morton's return to form and Darren Bravo introduction to international cricket were the positives that has come out of the series," he added.