Ahmedabad, Feb 23 (TIWN) From a boy who once sat at a west Delhi intersection with tears in his eyes after failing to get admitted to a recognised school 17 years ago to becoming the second India pace bowler to play 100 Tests, it has been quite a journey for Ishant Sharma.

Back then, a lanky, ungainly Ishant had just one cricket jersey which had faded to pale yellow. His primary concern then was to gain admission in a recognised school from the unrecognised neighbourhood one he was studying in.  His ticket to a recognised school was going to be a neighbour, Manvinder Singh 'Banka', a former India under-19 and Railways cricketer.