Ishan Kishan delivered a record-breaking performance at the R. Premadasa Stadium during the high-voltage T20 World Cup Group A clash against Pakistan. India's star wicketkeeper-batter smashed 42 runs within the first six overs, surpassing Shubman Gill’s previous record of 35 runs for the most individual runs scored in the powerplay during an India-Pakistan T20I.
Ishan Kishan breaks Shubman Gill's rare record against Pakistan
Ishan Kishan’s aggressive counter-attack was vital for India, as he walked to the crease under immense pressure. The team had suffered an early blow when the world’s top-ranked T20I batter, Abhishek Sharma, was dismissed for a four-ball duck by Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha on the final ball of the opening over.
Finding his rhythm quickly, Kishan reached a half-century in just 27 balls, marking the third-fastest fifty in the history of this storied rivalry. He sits just behind Pakistan’s Mohammad Hafeez (23 balls) and teammate Abhishek Sharma (24 balls) on the all-time list. His 'out of syllabus' approach delighted fans on social media, who noted that while Pakistan seemed prepared for Abhishek, they had no answer for Kishan’s onslaught.
Despite his dominance, Kishan’s innings was not without its hurdles. Play was briefly interrupted when he required medical attention for a leg injury sustained while attempting a reverse sweep. Though he managed to continue for a time, he was eventually clean-bowled by Saim Ayub for a brilliant 77 off 40 balls, an innings that included 10 boundaries and three sixes.
India's Playing XI:
Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan(w), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah
Pakistan's Playing XI:
Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha(c), Babar Azam, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Usman Khan(w), Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq