Former India all-rounder and head coach Ravi Shastri has heaped praise on India wicket-keeping batter Ishan Kishan, saying he batted magnificently against Pakistan at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, Sri Lanka.
Asia Cup 2023, India vs Pakistan updates
Speaking to Star Sports, Shastri said Kishan soaked up the pressure and batted magnificently against Pakistan in Kandy. Kishan scored 82 runs off 81 deliveries, smashing nine boundaries and two sixes.
“You know what I like best? It was the way he soaked up the pressure. There were doubts about where he’s going to bat, whether he’s going to play. He batted magnificently. He was the one player from at the outset was fluid in short making, and that confidence rubbed off on Hardik Pandya as well,” said Shastri.
He went on to say that Kishan and Hardik Pandya’s partnership helped India reach a respectable total in Kandy. Pandya and Kishan stitched a 138-run partnership registering India’s highest 5th-wicket partnership in Asia Cup history.
“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,” Shastri added.
Kishan walked in when India were reeling at 48 for 3, with skipper Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer back in the pavilion, thanks to some fiery pace bowling from Pakistan. Kishan, alongside opening batter Shubman Gill tried to soak up the pressure and settle India’s innings. However, after a brief rain delay, Gill lost his wicket to Haris Rauf, playing the ball on to his stumps.
Kishan then struck an important partnership with all-rounder Hardik Pandya to steady India’s ship. The partnership saw Kishan score his maiden Asia Cup half-century and his first against Pakistan as well.
Kishan got his fifty in 54 balls, hitting six boundaries and a solitary maximum. This was his seventh half-century in ODIs, while also crossing the 50-run mark for the fourth successive time in the 50-over format.
www.indiatoday.in
Source link