IND vs SA: Ishan Kishan Provides The Left-handed Option At The Top Of The Order The Indian Team Is Searching For - Sanjay Bangar

In the shortest version of the game, Sanjay Bangar believes Ishan Kishan could be the answer to Team India’s hunt for a left-handed batsman at the top of the order. 

After the Men In Blue were asked to bat first in the opening T20I against South Africa on Thursday, Kishan hit 76 runs off just 48 balls. His performance aided Rishabh Pant’s side in setting a difficult 212-run total for the Proteas, but it was ultimately inadequate. 

Ishan Kishan’s Knock Big Positive For Indian Team: Sanjay Bangar

During a discussion on Star Sports, Bangar was questioned about Kishan’s knock. He responded: 

“It is the biggest positive because the way the T20 game is evolving, you want a right-left combination always. If you have very high-quality right-handers, then it is a different thing but the Indian team is searching for that player after Shikhar Dhawan’s departure.” 

The teenager is coming into his own as he plays at the international level, according to the former Indian batting coach. Bangar elaborated: 

“So a lot of investment has been done in Ishan Kishan there. His start was not that good because he played the high-pressure games in the World Cup but as he is going on playing the bilaterals, the performances are coming.

He saw slight failure in the West Indies series as well. He is reading his game well and I feel a good left-handed option in the top order.” 

There’s A Reason Why Mumbai Indians Bought Ishan Kishan For Such Huge Price: Gautam Gambhir

Kishan got his international career off to a flying start with a brilliant half-century against England. After that, the left-hander struggled to maintain consistency, but he has scored 89 and 76 runs in two of his last three T20I appearances. 

After getting off to a good start, Gautam Gambhir was questioned about Kishan making it count. He replied: 

“He is that type of a batter as well. He is dangerous and this was probably the reason why Mumbai Indians bought him at such a huge price at the auction.

From this, you come to know that you have come after playing 14 consecutive T20 matches to a small ground with a good pitch and a fast outfield and the way Ishan Kishan batted.” 

Ishan Kishan’s Selfless Style Appreciated By Gautam Gambhir

Kishan’s selfless style of cricket was particularly appreciated by the cricketer-turned-politician. Gambhir explained: 

“The best thing that was seen in Ishan was that if probably there was some other player, when he had gotten an over with 20 runs, he might have thought of taking a single and then taking chances in the next over.

But he wanted to convert that 20 runs to 26 runs. This is the batting you want to see in T20 cricket, you call this selfless batting.” 

Kishan smacked two sixes and four fours off the first four deliveries of Keshav Maharaj’s third over. The explosive opener was not pleased with that and attempted to hit another maximum off the penultimate ball of the over, but was caught by Tristan Stubbs at long-on. 

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