Batting for just the third time in Test cricket, Ishan Kishan gave an account of his fearless approach with the bat on Day 4 of the ongoing Test match against India and West Indies in Trinidad on July 23 (Sunday). The swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batter played a lightning cameo and smacked Windies bowlers around the park before Indian skipper Rohit Sharma decided to declare the innings. Kishan's innings with the bat gave several fans a flashback of another Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who is currently injured.
Pant has played several thunderous knocks for India in red-ball cricket and Kishan on Sunday displayed that he can bat in a similar fashion to his U-19 teammate. It was only fitting that the bat with which Kishan did all the damage and Rishabh Pant's initials and number 'RP 17' were engraved on it.
Kishan, who is known for taking attack to the opposition team's bowling attack, registered a thumping half-century and remained unbeaten on 52 runs off 34 balls with the help of four fours and two sixes.
In the process, Kishan broke former captain MS Dhoni's 17-year-old record and became the second-quickest Indian wicketkeeper-batter to score a half-century in Tests. The young southpaw achieved the landmark in just 33 balls while Dhoni achieved the feat in 34 balls against Pakistan in 2006.
The record for smashing the fastest half-century by Indian wicketkeeper-batters lies with Pant, who scored a fifty in just 28 balls against Sri Lanka in 2022.
Meanwhile, India secured the driver's seat in the ongoing second Test match. Mohammed Siraj's five-wicket haul shot down the hosts for just 255 runs in the first innings, enabling the visitors to pocket a massive lead. India batters came out all guns blazing in the second innings with captain Rohit leading the charge. India declared after scoring 181/2 in 24 overs, setting a daunting target of 365 runs for West Indies. In reply, the hosts scored 76 runs and lost two wickets before the end of the day's play on June 23 (Sunday).
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