Injured KL Rahul’s replacement in India’s batting lineup for the high-octane Pakistan clash, Ishan Kishan played a rescue knock of 82 at Pallekele International Stadium. While Kishan got dismissed by Haris Rauf and missed a chance to score a century on his Asia Cup debut, he broke former Indian skipper MS Dhoni's 15-year-old record against Pakistan.
Kishan now holds the record for the highest score by an Indian wicketkeeper-batter against Pakistan in ODI Asia Cup history. Dhoni held the previous record with a 76-run knock in Karachi in 2008.
Had Kishan scored a century, he would have joined the elite list of Indian wicketkeeper-batters to score a century in the ODI Asia Cup. Dhoni scored an unbeaten 109 against Hong Kong in Karachi whereas Rahul Dravid scored 104 against UAE in 2004.
Also, he missed a chance to become the third wicketkeeper-batter to score a century against Pakistan in the Asia Cup. Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara scored 112 in 2008 whereas Bangladesh's Anamul Haque scored 100 in 2014.
Kishan walked in to bat when India were struggling for 48/3 in the 10th over. After opener Shubman Gill departed in the 15th over, Kishan stabilised the innings with Hardik Pandya. The southpaw reached his half-century from 54 balls. This was his fourth consecutive ODI half-century. Kishan's 81-ball 82 was laced with nine fours and two sixes.
Kishan and Pandya shared a 138-run partnership for the fifth wicket. This is the second-highest partnership for the fifth wicket or below in India versus Pakistan ODIs. The record belongs to Imran Khan and Javed Miandad. They shared a 142-run partnership in 1987.
Kishan's 82-run knock is also the fourth-highest score by an Indian wicketkeeper-batter against Pakistan in the format. Only Dhoni has scored two centuries whereas Dravid had scored 99.
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