His ticket to a recognised school was going to be a neighbour, Manvinder Singh 'Banka', a former India under-19 and Railways cricketer.
Banka, who had played just eight first-class games, was a sort of a star in that area for having played cricket at a decent level.
Ishant would frequent Banka's home and request him to pull strings and get him admitted to a recognised school.
"One morning, he turned up at home at around 9 while I was brushing teeth. I got a bit irritated. He was a simpleton, didn't even know how to wear proper clothes or do his hair. He was wearing that faded jersey again. My cricketer wife Reshma Gandhi (who played for India and scored a century on debut) had this brand new white jersey with Cricinfo on it. I asked him to wear it. He looked much, much better," recalls Banka who immediately took him to Salwan Public School where former Delhi Ranji Trophy player Bantoo Singh was the chief coach.