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Ishan Kishan's unbeaten 80 against Sri Lanka has prompted former India batter Aakash Chopra to back him for a future leadership role in the T20I side. Kishan's innings helped India post 169/7 before they bowled Sri Lanka out for 45 to win the Asian Games 2026 semi-final by 124 runs.
India will face Pakistan in the men's cricket gold-medal match on October 3 at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin. Kishan will enter the final after making a strong impact in the semi-final, while Chopra has suggested that the wicketkeeper-batter could eventually take over the vice-captaincy from Tilak Varma.
Also Read: Ishan Kishan warns India against taking Pakistan lightly in Gold Medal clash at Asian Games 2026
I have a strong feeling that he is going to become the Indian team's vice-captain - Aakash Chopra on Ishan Kishan
India lost early wickets against Sri Lanka before Kishan steadied the innings and accelerated later on. He remained unbeaten on 80 from 46 balls, hitting four fours and five sixes, and was the main contributor to India's total alongside Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who scored 38 from 21 balls.
Aakash Chopra felt Kishan's continued run-scoring and growing importance within the side could eventually lead to a leadership opportunity. Speaking on his YouTube channel, he highlighted the batter's development while suggesting that the vice-captaincy could come sooner rather than later. He stated:
“Our batting struggled a bit in the middle, faltered, and that's where Ishan Kishan scored 80, man. And Ishan Kishan is also growing in stature. I mean, it feels like the day is not far when he will get the vice-captaincy.
"I have a strong feeling that he is going to become the Indian team's vice-captain. It is going to happen. Whether it happens now or after 6 months. But this boy is unstoppable. He is continuously scoring runs.”
It was very difficult to bat against the spinners - Ishan Kishan on his performance in Asian Games semi-final
Ishan Kishan's innings became particularly important after India were 24/2 early in the innings. With Sri Lanka using several spin options, the left-hander focused on selecting his scoring opportunities rather than trying to attack every delivery.
Reflecting on his approach and the conditions, Ishan Kishan explained that the wicket became difficult to score freely on once the spinners settled into their spells. He also credited India's bowlers for putting the team in a strong position. Ishan Kishan said on BCCI.tv:
“Looking at Bumrah, how we started getting those two early wickets, you know, a pace bowler getting those wickets. So I think bowlers, I think it was expected, was very much needed for them to step up, and they did it in a very good manner.
“To be very honest, I knew it when I was batting in the middle. I thought we are playing with four spinners, Abhishek being the fourth one. I feel we were already on the upper hand once I saw that 135 score on the board, because it was very difficult to bat against the spinners. I think being in the middle, it was important to first understand how many shots we have to play, what shots are on, and how to choose your bowlers where you can think like you're confident enough to take them on.”
He added that the early boundaries helped him find his rhythm despite the difficult batting conditions.
“Because I felt it was a pretty difficult wicket to bat initially when you go and you don't get those boundaries easily. But looking at them getting the left-arm spinner and those leg spinners in, initially I think I got those boundaries and I was lucky enough to, you know, get that rhythm going.”
Ishan Kishan hails Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's powerplay heroics in Asian Games semi-final
Ishan Kishan also credited Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for providing India with a strong start. The 15-year-old scored 38 from 21 balls and helped India reach 58 runs during the powerplay before Ishan Kishan took greater responsibility in the middle overs.
Kishan said his focus was less on reaching a personal milestone and more on ensuring India crossed 150 after the early wickets. He explained that the conditions made building partnerships particularly important. He said:
“We both batted very well initially. He [Vaibhav Sooryavanshi] got those starts for us earlier also, and, you know, on this wicket especially, when you use the power play, we ended around, what, 58 runs in six overs, which was very good. So my job was to just keep it going in the middle. Iyer was there, and we were just trying to make those partnerships.
“But unfortunately, I feel the wicket, you know how it was, and it was pretty difficult for the batters to be in the middle. So my target was just to get anyhow to 150. I was not looking at my personal score or anything. It was just one goal: how to get 150 on board first.”
