Maybe Ishan Kishan Thought He Was Still Playing In The IPL And Not On His International Debut - Virender Sehwag
Updated - 15 Mar 2021, 02:08 PM
Former India opener, Virender Sehwag lauds the unfazed temperament of Ishan Kishan, who struck a scintillating half-century on his T20I debut, on Sunday against England, and helped the side level the series.
After brilliant performances in IPL 2020 – 516 runs at an average of 57.33 with a strike rate of 145.76 helping Mumbai Indians to its 5th trophy – and then for Jharkhand in domestic cricket, Ishan Kishan was given his maiden India call-up. The 22-year-old replaced Shikhar Dhawan at the opening position.
In a chase of 165, on a slow surface, the left-hander blasted the English bowlers for 56 runs off 32 balls. He smacked 5 fours and 4 sixes in his sparkling innings.
Ishan Kishan’s innings released pressure off from everyone else: Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag opines that Kishan’s quick start, despite KL Rahul’s loss in the first over, was crucial as it offloaded pressure from other batters – especially Virat Kohli, who was looking for some form after securing consecutive ducks.
Kishan and Kohli shared a 94-run stand with the left-hander even overshadowing the skipper, who eventually got back to his best with a fifty.
“Everything went well for India. Ishant Kishan’s innings released pressure off from everyone else, because if the top order score runs, then it helps the lower order batsmen. It was a brilliant innings for Kishan,” Virender Sehwag told Cricbuzz.
Sehwag, who himself embodied the fearlessness batting approach as an opener during his career, is impressed by Kishan’s composed disposition on international debut. The 42-year-old says that Kishan just continued with his form and mindset with which he batted in the IPL last season.
“One thing I liked about Kishan is that he didn’t think he was playing international cricket – maybe he was thinking he is still playing in the IPL. The way he played his shots, it’s the same way he played in the IPL because he faces similar bowlers in the IPL as well. In international cricket, on debut players get nervous, but Ishan Kishan didn’t seem like that at all, that was a good thing,” the former opener added.
Also Read: Facing Quality Pacers In IPL Helped Me On India Debut: Ishan Kishan
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India vs England 2021 Ishan Kishan Mumbai Indians (MI) Virat Kohli Virender Sehwag