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Practised a lot during World Cup, was constantly talking to coaches: Ishan Kishan
Follow UsThe left-handed batter played the first two games of the event but had to warm the bench once Shubman Gill made his return
Ishan Kishan didn’t get much game-time during the 2023 ODI World Cup but the wicketkeeper-batter was constantly working on his game off the field. The left-handed batter played the first two games of the tournament but had to warm the bench once Shubman Gill recovered from dengue.
Kishan was preferred over Jitesh Sharma in the first T20I against Australia in Visakhapatnam on Thursday (November 23) and the 25-year-old made his presence felt by slamming 58 off 39 in the 209-run chase. Kishan put on 112 runs for the third wicket with Suryakumar Yadav (80 off 42) and helped India win the game by two wickets.
Kishan was particularly aggressive against young legspinner Tanveer Sangha, smoking him for 30 runs off just 10 deliveries. “During the World Cup, when I wasn't playing, I asked myself before every practice session 'What is important for me now? What I could do?’ I practised a lot in nets. I was constantly talking to the coaches about the game, and how to take the game deep. How to target certain bowlers,” said Kishan.
“Being a lefty against legspinner, I know how the wicket was as I had kept for 20 overs. When you are chasing 209, you need to target a bowler, who you can hit. I had a chat with Surya bhai that I'm going to take (on) this guy (Sangha) wherever he bowls because we need to get the runs and balls close.
“You can't leave too many runs for the batters at the back. It won't be easy for them to play the big shots straightaway. I had to take my chances and I believed in myself.”
India lost their openers inside three overs and that’s when Kishan and SKY joined hands to bring their team back on track. "We lost two wickets early and partnership was very important. I played with Surya bhai in the same team in IPL also so I know how he plays, what shots he can play... the communication I think was very good today in the middle.
“We were talking to each other about which bowler we have to take, we have to keep on rotating the strike."
The surface was superb for batting and Josh Inglis made full use of it in the first innings by slamming 110 off just 50 balls. Ravi Bishnoi had a rough evening, conceding 54 runs in his four overs. "It was not easy for spinners, even when the Australian spinners were bowling they went for runs,” sympathised Kishan.
"I know he is a very good bowler, he has done well in the past matches. You have seen the wicket, it was not easy, the ball was not doing much, the ball was travelling a lot. Josh Inglis, the way he batted, and at the same time he had Steve Smith at the other end.
"We need to focus on what we could have done, we will get wickets like these in upcoming games too. Bishnoi, he just needs to back himself a bit more and he will do very well in the upcoming games.”
Talking about the overall game, Kishan said: “Solid performance all around. It was not easy for the bowlers I know, especially with the fact that most of them are playing after a long time in international cricket. So credit goes to everyone.
"It was a pressure game when you are playing against Australia. Overall, I think, we were very good. Sometimes we need to play these matches where you know you are winning it easily and at the same time the match gets close, so we get to learn a lot form those games where we have to take singles, where we have to hit in the gaps.
After the exploits of SKY and Kishan, Rinku Singh guided India to victory with his unbeaten 22 off 14 balls. "Rinku, you know, he has done so well in IPL and then domestic matches. And coming here playing against Australia, showing his calmness the shots he played, I think, he was superb today.”
