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[caption id="attachment_61590" align="alignnone" width="580"] Ishant Sharma in action on the second day of the Centurion test against South Africa on Sunday. Image Source: twitter@OfficialCSA[/caption] Debasis Sen, Centurion: Indian pacer Ishant Sharma on Sunday said that he has never shied away from responsibilities. Ishant, who missed the first test at Cape Town owing to illness, said, "I was supposed to play the first Test but I fell ill as soon as we reached here. I wasn't fully recovered from fever so I didn't play the first game. I am the senior fast bowler of this team so I have to take responsibility. If I am ready to take those important wickets for the team, I am always up for it," Ishant said when asked about his absence from the first Test. Ishant also revealed his game-plan during the course of the first innings and said that he just wanted to stick to bowling at a good line and length and he knew he would be rewarded for it. "The game was opening up a bit because of runs in the first session on day one. So my effort was to keep bowling in good areas and bowl according to plans. I always believe in my strength and my strength is bounce, so I always try to bowl where I can finish my ball on the top of off stump. I think that's the best chance you give yourself to take more wickets and that's what I was doing," he added. Talking about the state of the match after Day 2, Ishant feel both Virat and Hardik will be key for India to post a total anywhere near to the Proteas score. "I think it's pretty important partnership, obviously, because the way Virat is playing it is totally a different game. If Hardik gets going he can take the game away from the opposition. After tea yesterday, the run out from him was a game changer for us. He backs his strength totally and I am hopeful they will take the game away from South Africa," Ishant said. He added, "The balance is there currently. If Virat and Hardik have a good partnership then tomorrow's (Monday) morning session is going to very important for us. And it is vital how we play tomorrow. That is very important for us. It was a pretty even day because we bowled them out pretty easily for 335 runs. On this kind of a wicket I think this was a good effort by the bowlers and we are at 183 for 5, so I think it was a pretty even day for both the teams."