Well, not anyone can manage to overshadow the Indian skipper Virat Kohli in the middle, however, last night a young debutant made it possible and he did a good job at it. Last night, Ishan Kishan, who was playing his debut match for India, impressed one and all with his gutsy knock that helped team India to win the match and level the ongoing 5-match T20I series.
Ishan Kishan walked out to bat with all guns blazing along with KL Rahul to open the innings for India. However, he was left in a tricky situation as KL Rahul was dismissed for a six-ball duck. But Ishan kept going and made sure that he made most of the chance he got as he slammed a superb half-century on his debut match.
Ishan joined hands with the Indian skipper and went for big hits and boundaries regardless of the bowler and smashed 56-runs off 32 balls, his knock was laced with 5 fours and 4 sixes. However, he was dismissed after he tried to switch hit for the second time off Adil Rashid.
After the match, during the post-match conference, Virat Kohli, who himself played a match-winning knock, was all praises for Ishan Kishan. Virat claimed that it was Ishan’s knock that changed the game completely. He said:
“Special mention to Ishan, the way he batted,” He added: “Changed the game completely. We were one down for nothing. I tried to do what I can but then he totally took the game away from the opposition. Kept following his instinct. Quality batting on debut.
Virat also said that Ishan is a fearless cricketer and should continue with his approach. He said:
“When you play in the IPL with such dominance like he has, against quality bowlers, we’ve seen him hit international fast bowlers for big sixes,”
He added:
“He’s a fearless character. He should continue to back his instincts. We had a conversation out in the middle where he understood and analysed the game very smartly. He knew he was hitting the ball well so he kept taking his chances. But he was calculated. He wasn’t reckless. And that’s what you want to see in youngsters. Coming in, looking composed, still backing themselves but being aware of what the situation of the game is and I think today that counterattacking innings of his and our partnership [94 runs off 54 balls] was something that the team needed and he provided that for the team.”