Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan did struggle against the West Indies cricket team in the recently concluded three-match T20I series. But in the first T20I against Sri Lanka, played on February 24 (Thursday), in Lucknow, the southpaw played a brilliant innings of 89 runs off 56 balls.
Ishan’s innings was comprised of 10 boundaries and 3 sixes.
Gavaskar speaks
In a situation like this, former India batter Sunil Gavaskar has talked about Ishan’s batting. According to Gavaskar, the left-handed batsman must be consistent.
“Certainly the way he batted today, that does give the indication. But this is only the first game. In the three matches against West Indies, he didn't quite look comfortable. That length, pace and bounce were all different. Here the bounce was bellow the shoulder, towards mid rift, making it easier for him,” Gavaskar was quoted while talking to the host broadcaster.
“But not taking away anything from his innings, some of the drives and pull shots that he played were terrific, but this was one innings. Let's wait for consistency. Let's wait a couple of matches,” he further added.
Consistency needed
Gavaskar feels that to be a crucial member of the Indian team, Ishan must show consistency.
“Once the consistency is there, you can say that 'this is the guy we want', because he offers you three things - he is a wicketkeeper, he is a left-hander and he can bat at top and also finish the innings as well batting at 5 or 6,” the 72-year-old former batsman explained.
In the first T20I of the series, batting first Indian team registered a huge total of 199 runs losing two wickets in 20 overs.
Ishan looked set to score a century but eventually his innings came to an end after Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka sent him back to the dressing room in the 17th over of the innings.
The wicketkeeper-batsman wanted to play a pull shot but his mistimed effort was ultimately caught by Janith Liyanage standing at deep midwicket.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma scored 44 runs off 32 balls and later Shreyas Iyer played a terrific knock of 57 runs off just 28 balls. Iyer’s innings was comprised of 5 boundaries and 2 sixes.
In reply, the visitors could only manage to reach a total of 137 runs losing six wickets in 20 overs as they suffered a 62-run defeat.
