In the recent banter between India and South Africa on 9th June, 2022, Ishan Kishan emerged as one of the most prolific batters from the Indian side. However, when analyzed, Kishan’s innings was full of misjudgments; first three boundaries that he hit came off thick outside edges from the bat.
He was repeatedly beaten by the South African bowlers, more than five times; some were a result of genuine pitch movements, others brute forced errors committed by the player.
Until the fifth over, Kishan held his roots pretty well under the pressure, and not barred from playing shots whenever was possible. His batting break through initiated from the 9th over, which spurned with a magnificent shot towards point to a length delivery bowled by Dwaine Pretorious. On correcting his length, drilled over towards the covers to get through his innings.
Ishan Kishan went full-fledged after the South African bowlers from the 13th over; he backed his innings well with continuous hits (2 sixes and 2 fours) in a single over to the left handed spinner, Keshav Maharaj. However, in the same over itself, he got out that marked an impressive innings by the young lad – he scored 76 runs off 48 balls.
With remarkable batting performances set forth by Hardik Pandya and Risabh Pant, India was able to put up a target of 211 at the loss of 4 wickets. The Arun Jaitley stadium in New Delhi sparked off with the outstanding batting performance put up by the Indian batters.
However, on an unfortunate note, it did not prove enough as the South African batting duo, Rassie van der Dussen and David Miller clinched off the target with easy, carrying South Africa to a seven wicket victory.
Despite putting forth an incredible performance with the bat, Ishan Kishan’s position as an opener seems vague in the next match with Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul’s return into the squad.
When asked to comment on the same in the post-match presentation, Ishan Kishan said, “I think they (Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul) are world-class players and I won’t ask for my support when they are there in the team. So my job here is to give my best in the practice session. Whenever I get my opportunity, I have to prove myself or do well for the team. So I focus more than that about my process about what I have to do here.”
Ishan made it quite clear that he, a 23-year-old cricketer from Jharkhand, will never ask the team management to consider picking him up ahead of senior and experienced players such as Rohit and Rahul, who have been stalwarts of the game.
Adding more on it, he further said, “They have done so much. You know, scored so many runs for our country. I can’t ask them to drop them and make me play in the first place. Yeah I’ll keep doing my thing it’s up to selectors or other coaches whatever they think but my job is to you know just whenever I get my chance I will give my best.”
Giving his reviews on the match, Ishan refused to blame the Indian bowlers solely for the loss; he believes it’s a collective responsibility of the team and that as a whole it needs to improve on a lot of segments.
The second T20I between India and South Africa is scheduled on 12th June, 2022 (Sunday). Hopefully, India will clinch a victory in that match!
