IND vs SA: 'Ishan Kishan Has Been Criticized At Times' - Irfan Pathan Says Left-handed Opener Is Trying His Best To Seal His Spot In India's T20 World Cup Squad
Published - 15 Jun 2022, 04:48 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:08 AM
Irfan Pathan has stated that Ishan Kishan is giving it his all in order to be picked in Team India’s T20 World Cup team later this year.
On Tuesday, June 14, Kishan hit 54 runs off 35 balls in the third T20I against South Africa. His innings enabled the Men In Blue set a daunting 180-run target for the Proteas, who were eventually defeated by Rishabh Pant’s side by 48 runs.
Ishan Kishan Showed That He Is Full Ready: Irfan Pathan
Irfan Pathan was questioned about Ishan Kishan putting his case for India’s T20 World Cup selection at a Star Sports event. He responded:
“He showed that he is fully ready. He has been criticized at times, that he doesn’t play his natural game, that he plays under pressure, but if he runs fast, you get an option of a left-handed batter as an opener.”
The former Indian all-rounder emphasised the benefits of using a left-right starting pair. Pathan said:
“A right and left-handed combination makes a huge difference to any team when the ball is moving and the pitch has extra bounce. So you are saying that you are present here and performing very well.”
Kishan has clearly put his name in the hat for a spot in India’s T20 World Cup team. In three T20Is against the Proteas, the small southpaw has hit 164 runs with an amazing strike rate of 157.69.
Ishan Kishan’s Off-side Game Looking Much Better: Irfan Pathan
Kishan’s game has improved noticeably, according to Irfan Pathan. While explaining he said:
“If he continues performing like this, the Mission Melbourne or Australia we are talking about, he is trying his best to seal his spot at least in the squad. The way he is playing, he is trying to play intelligently and his off-side play is looking much better.”
In Tuesday’s match, the 37-year-old praised Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad for pacing the innings methodically. Pathan stated:
“There was help for the bowlers at the start, the ball was moving around, if you talk about Parnell or Rabada, and it was not easy, so it was important to manage that time and both (Kishan and Gaikwad) of them did that, and when Nortje’s over came, you hit five boundaries and got the momentum.”
In just 10 overs, Kishan and Gaikwad put on a 97-run partnership for the first wicket. They only managed 28 runs in the first four overs of the Indian innings until Gaikwad smashed Anrich Nortje for 20 runs in the fifth over.
Tagged:
2022 ICC T20 World Cup IND vs SA 2022 Irfan Pathan Ishan Kishan Kagiso Rabada Ruturaj Gaikwad Wayne Parnell
