Against Pakistan on Sunday, Ishan Kishan registered a blistering 77 that powered India to their third consecutive win in the T20 World Cup. The wicketkeeper batsman’s dream run in the T20 format continued as he dismantled Pakistan’s pin strategy with authority. He smashed his second consecutive T20 World Cup fifty and steered India towards a massive 61-run win at Colombo.
Apart from his batting heroics, he also impressed us with his wicketkeeping skills. He affected a sharp stumping to dismiss the dangerous Usman Khan. Usman was counterattacking against Indian bowlers and looked threatening.
Ishan Kishan’s coach spoke to ANI after the match. Here is what he said. “I am so happy. He scored 77 runs in 40 balls. To have scored this against Pakistan is truly commendable. I had told him yesterday that you have to dedicate your knock to your country. Everyone is really happy with the way he scored in such a high-pressure match. In the Asia Cup (2023), he also scored 80-odd against Pakistan. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav has also done well.”
On a tricky surface at the Premadasa Stadium, experts believed that a total of 150 runs would be enough. India had gone 25 past the 150 mark, thanks to the early impetus provided by Ishan Kishan. Some believe that even 120 would’ve been enough on this pitch, just like the New York game two years ago. The conditions of these two venues might have different character but one thing was for sure: both were demanding for batters. This time, the defining difference was Ishan Kishan with the will of steel.
Even the coach of the Pakistan team, Mike Hesson, acknowledged the impact of Kishan’s innings. “I think the way Ishan Kishan played, he took the game away from us. And I think to be fair to India, they probably got about 25 above par on that surface.”
After losing Abhishek Sharma for just one run, Kishan provided the much-needed head start for India. He redefined the aggression on a pitch where most batters from both sides couldn’t get going. Ishan struck at an astonishing rate of 192.50 strike rate. He made 77 runs off just 44 balls. The second highest was 32 runs off 29 balls by Suryakumar Yadav.
Ishan’s dismissal briefly stalled the Indian innings as India could only manage 51 runs in the next 8 overs. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadava lauded Ishan’s innings. He said. “I think Ishan thought something out of the box. After 0 for 1, there had to be someone taking responsibility in the powerplay and the way he took that responsibility, I think it was amazing. I think we were very ahead in the powerplay.”
Here is what Ishan said about his innings. “The wicket was not that easy in the beginning, but sometimes you just have to believe what you want to play, what shots are on, and you have to just focus on your strength. So I was just keeping it simple and watching the ball and playing with the field, maybe trying to make them run as much as they can, but yeah, I think it worked pretty well on my side.”
