During the ODI World Cup, Ishan Kishan had many opportunities to work on his skills under expert trainers while sitting on the bench; however with one ball remaining in the five-match series against Australia, India took a 1-0 lead after chasing down a total of 209 thanks to Kishan’s 58 off 39 balls and Suryakumar Yadav’s 42-ball 80.
During the ODI World Cup, Ishan Kishan had many opportunities to work on his skills under expert trainers while sitting on the bench. He batted and batted at the nets, making mental notes about how to use different bowlers in different match scenarios.
The 25-year-old Indian batter enjoyed the fruits of his laborious studies a while back in the company of the country’s best cricketers, including a couple of all-time greats, during the opening T20 International against Australia here on Thursday.
Leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha was the target of his attack, from which Kishan scored 30 runs off only 10 balls.
“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 practiced a lot in nets. I was constantly talking to the coaches about the game, how to take the game deep. How to target certain bowlers.
“Being a lefty against leg-spinner, 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,”
Kishan said at the post-match press conference.
“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 straight away. I had to take my chances and I believed in myself,”
he added.
With one ball remaining in the five-match series, India took a 1-0 lead after chasing down a total of 209 thanks to Kishan’s 58 off 39 balls and Suryakumar Yadav’s 42-ball 80.
After India lost two early wickets in a big chase, communication with Suryakumar—who is leading the squad in this series and with whom Kishan has played a lot of cricket in the IPL—was crucial.
“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 it 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.”
Ishan Kishan also received praise from the captain for his role in helping the team surpass the massive goal. After opener Ruturaj Gaikwad was dismissed for a duck, Kishan’s 39-ball 58 had laid the platform for the audacious chase.
“I think, he (Ishan) helped me really well. For me to be fearless, him staying there and his knock was very important,”
said Suryakumar, whose strike rate of 190.47 was the key to the chase.
Young leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi had a difficult day in the field, going for 54 runs in his four overs.
“It was not easy for spinners, even when the Australian spinners were bowling they went for runs.
“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, and 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,”
Kishan said.
Overall, the wicketkeeper-batter termed it a “solid all round performance”.
“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.”
With his unbeaten 22 off 14 balls, big-hitting Rinku Singh led India to victory following the exploits of Suryakumar and Kishan.
“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 from those games where we have to take singles, where we have to hit in the gaps.
“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,” Kishan said.
“I think he (Rinku) was very calm, though it was a pressure situation. When he came in to bat, he was very calm and the composure which he showed, I think, that was great to see,”
Suryakumar told the BCCI.
Regarding whether there were any anxious moments in the dressing room upon witnessing Australia’s score of more over 200, the skipper said,
“Little bit. Itna experience nahin hai dressing room mein (there isn’t that much experience in the dressing room) but all the boys were excited.
“When they saw the score on the board, they only said one thing, ‘if we win this game it will be truly enjoyable’.
“Very proud to lead the country and very happy to contribute in my first game as captain. Looking forward to the next game and how it goes,”
added Suryakumar.
India squad: Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad (Vice-captain), Ishan Kishan, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (Wk), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Shivam Dubey, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar.Australia squad: Matthew Wade (Capt), Aaron Hardie, Jason Behrendorff, Sean Abbott, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa.