Former Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has advised Ishan Kishan to keep and show patience following his golden duck against Australia.
Opening in place of the ill Shubman Gill against Australia in Chennai, Ishan Kishan played a poor shot to a swinging delivery from Mitchell Starc: on the first ball he faced from Starc, Kishan looked to hit a boundary to an outswinger but managed an outside edge that went straight to Cameron Green at first slip.
Given what Starc is capable of doing with the new ball, it was an unwise shot selection from the young India left-hander.
Ishan Kishan should be patient: Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib Akhtar stressed his opinion that Ishan Kishan needs to remain composed and show patience against the new ball. Akhtar reckons Kishan wanted to put a positive foot forward against Starc, but it is something the southpaw should avoid doing.
“Ishan Kishan should be patient and needs to play according to the situation. I know there is aggression and exuberance of youth, and he wants to stamp his authority and he wants to say that ‘I’ve arrived on the scene.’ But he needs to show patience,” Akhtar said on his YouTube channel.
Kishan was part of the top-order collapse that India had, as Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer, too, got out for ducks and India were reeling at 2/3. After that, though, the 165-run stand between Virat Kohli and KL Rahul bailed the side out, and India went on to win by 6 wickets with KL Rahul bagging the Player of the Match award for his 97*.
Akhtar was in praise for KL Rahul, lauding Rahul for showing “maturity” during the tougher time against Starc and Hazlewood and then cashing in when the ball was wet due to dew.
“KL Rahul showed maturity as he settled in slowly, went through the tough times. And when the ball became wet, when the ball started coming to the bat, he started playing his shots,” he added.
Ishan Kishan is likely to open in India’s next game as well – against Afghanistan on Wednesday in Delhi – as Shubman Gill is ruled out from this match.
