IND vs PAK: Ravi Shastri Lauds Ishan Kishan's 82-Run Knock, Says He Soaked Up The Pressure In High Octane Encounter

Former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri lauded young wicketkeeper batter Ishan Kishan for his brilliant 82-run knock against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023 encounter. Ravi Shastri highlighted Ishan Kishan’s fluid shot-making and his positive influence on Hardik Pandya’s performance.

Ishan Kishan wasn’t the first-choice wicketkeeper for India in the ongoing continental tournament. The left-handed batter replaced KL Rahul, who was ruled out of the first two games due to injury. However, he scored 82 runs off 81 balls to help the team post a decent total on the board.

Ishan Kishan Batted Magnificently – Ravi Shastri

Speaking to Star Sports, Ravi Shastri was impressed by Ishan Kishan‘s ability to handle pressure in his first match against Pakistan in international cricket.

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“You know what I like best? It was the way he soaked up the pressure. There were doubts about where he was going to bat, and whether he was going to play,” Shastri told Star Sports.

“He batted magnificently. He was the one player from at the outset who was fluid in shot making, and that confidence rubbed off on Hardik Pandya as well,” he added.

The southpaw came to bat after the dismissals of Rohit Sharma (11), Virat Kohli (4) and Shreyas Iyer (14) within the powerplay. He forged a magnificent 138-run partnership with Hardik Pandya (87) for the fifth wicket.

A Very Good Score On The Board – Ravi Shastri

Ravi Shastri highlighted that Ishan Kishan’s knock boosted Hardik Pandya’s confidence after the early collapse. He said that the team managed to put up a respectable score, considering their early struggles.

“Hardik realized that I’ve got a bloke here who can stay with me. And if we can hang in here and string a partnership of 50 60 70 eventually 138 you know, which was brilliant from India’s point of view because it’s given them a respectable score on the board. A very good score on the board when you consider it’s an India-Pakistan match. From 66 to 4, they will take 267,” he concluded.

The 25-year-old played an aggressive role during the partnership. Kishan batted at No. 5 for the first time in his ODI career, but he batted as if he were in his regular position. He dominated the Pakistani spinners and didn’t allow them to settle.

Also read: IND vs PAK: Watch – Haris Rauf Gives Fiery Send-Off To Ishan Kishan After Dismissing Him For 82