Over the past year, as India’s batting line-up became an intimidating force, Ishan Kishan found himself in a unique situation. Although he was instrumental in showcasing a bold new approach as an opener in limited-overs cricket, he subsequently spent a long 10 months in the reserves. Close to the action but not quite in the fray, he watched his teammates pile up scores on batsman-friendly pitches. During the World Cup, despite being in prime form, Kishan only stepped onto the field when an injury sidelined Shubman Gill.
A mere three days after witnessing India stumble in the middle overs of the T20 World Cup final, Kishan was thrust into the spotlight during India’s most substantial successful T20 chase to beat Australia at Vizag. His 39-ball 58 not only signaled that he had maintained his appetite for runs but also showcased his ability to adapt his natural game to suit the team’s needs, even after spending the majority of time on the sidelines since the Asia Cup.
Despite the absence of several key players for the T20 series versus the Aussies, Kishan did not reclaim his preferred opening slot. While Gill had clinched the opening spot in ODIs, it was Yashasvi Jaiswal who assumed the role in the shortest format. Yet, this scenario also underscored what might be Kishan’s greatest asset: his versatility. Unlike his peers, he has shown proficiency in batting anywhere in the top five, an aggressive approach regardless of position enhancing his value to the team.
Kishan, the T20 batsman, has previously been critiqued for his lack of tactical acumen and respect for bowlers under tight conditions. However, his ODI performances have negated this criticism, demonstrating his capacity to bat with restraint and intelligence. This was further proven in Vizag, where he measured his responses to the challenges presented by Jason Behrendorff, who tested him thoroughly over a span of an entire over.
Faced with a familiar foe in Behrendorff, Kishan exhibited a change in temperament. Where the ‘old’ Kishan might have risked his wicket by aggressively trying to break the shackles, he instead calmly clipped a single and then adeptly adjusted his hands to the next ball to avoid giving away his wicket. He was at a modest 4 runs from the first 12 balls – a cautious start reflecting his respect for the conditions and the situation, especially after both Ruturaj Gaikwad and Jaiswal had departed early with a daunting target of 209 looming overhead.
Bolstered by his synergy with Suryakumar Yadav, drawn from their partnership at Mumbai Indians, Kishan played a supporting role while initially going at less than a run a ball for the first 21 deliveries. The recovery from India’s shaky start had been successful. With 130 runs required from the remaining 72 balls, it was in the ninth over that Kishan started to unleash, targeting leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha and smashing a boundary followed by two sixes in three deliveries, shifting the momentum in India’s favor.
Kishan’s approach was clear, “[Being] a lefty batter and a leg-spinner bowling, [I had to take a chance]. I knew the wicket, having kept for 20 overs. So the counterattack was needed. When you’re chasing 209, you have to target certain bowlers. You can’t leave too much for the backend batters. [Taking] chances was crucial, and I believed in myself, drawing from my practice sessions.”
His collaboration with Yadav reflected a deep mutual understanding, “Playing with Surya bhai, we know each other’s game well from the IPL. Our communication today was very good. We discussed which bowlers to target, when to rotate the strike. The execution of our plans was on point, that partnership was when I felt we were back in the game.”
Although their partnership concluded in the 13th over, their efforts had turned the tide, setting the stage for a historic chase that would forever etch Ishan Kishan’s name as a player of match-winning temperament and undeniable skill.