'You know what I like best?' Ravi Shastri underlines most satisfying part of Ishan Kishan's knock against Pakistan

Former India all-rounder and head coach Ravi Shastri lauded wicket-keeper batsman Ishan Kishan for his remarkable performance against Pakistan in the Asia Cup in Pallekele.

SportsTak

• Sat • 02 Sep 2023

Highlights:

Ishan Kishan scored 82 runs off 81 balls against Pakistan.The southpaw smashed nine fours and two sixes.Ravi Shastri lauded Kishan for soaking the pressure.

Former India all-rounder and head coach Ravi Shastri has lauded wicket-keeper batsman Ishan Kishan for his remarkable performance against Pakistan in the Asia Cup at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy, Sri Lanka. Shastri emphasized that the crucial partnership between Kishan and Hardik Pandya was pivotal in securing India's strong total and lauded the young left-handed batter for showing tremendous composure in adverse situation.

Kishan and Pandya's 138-run alliance not only steadied India's innings but also set a new record for India’s highest 5th-wicket partnership in the history of the Asia Cup.

"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 shot-making, and that confidence rubbed off on Hardik Pandya as well," said Shastri on Star Sports.

"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," he added.

India was struggling at 48/3 when Kishan took to the crease, with key players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer already back in the pavilion. The young batsman initially partnered with opener Shubman Gill to combat Pakistan's fiery pace attack. Gill's dismissal post a rain delay didn't deter Kishan from carrying the innings forward.

Kishan collaborated with all-rounder Hardik Pandya to form an impactful partnership that would eventually bring stability to India’s shaky start. Kishan marked his debut Asia Cup half-century and also his first against Pakistan during this crucial stand.

Kishan's quick fifty, achieved in just 54 balls, included six boundaries and a maximum. This becomes his seventh ODI half-century and remarkably, he crossed the 50-run mark for the fourth consecutive time in the 50-over format.

This game-changing performance by Kishan has not only garnered praise from cricket pundits like Ravi Shastri but has also eased concerns surrounding India's middle-order strength. With a record-breaking 5th-wicket partnership and a personal milestone, Ishan Kishan has undoubtedly become a player to watch in this Asia Cup.