Ishan Kishan scored 89 runs off 56 balls in the first T20I against Sri Lanka at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on February 24, earning him player of the match honors. Men in Blue won the match defeating the visitors by 62 runs. However, the 23-year-old stressed that he cannot take his position for granted and must be prepared for every opportunity that comes his way.
Ishan Kishan, who had struggled with consistency in the previous series, has credited India captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid for his return to form in the first T20 against Sri Lanka.
The 1st T20
Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer both scored fifty runs as India beat Sri Lanka by 62 runs in the first Twenty20 International in Lucknow on Thursday.
After winning the toss, Sri Lanka invited India to bat first. The home side posted a total of 199/2 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to contributions from skipper Rohit Sharma, Kishan, and Shreyas Iyer. Sri Lanka’s response got off to the worst possible start, losing two wickets in three overs.
As Sri Lanka struggled in the chase, pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar scalped both openers Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara. In the tenth over, Sri Lanka reached 50 runs, but they lost two more wickets. The visitors’ top run-scorer was Charith Asalanka, who hit an unbeaten half-century. However, the batsman was unable to complete the task, and Sri Lanka lost the match by 62 runs.
Ishan Kishan on his knock
“When you come to a level like this, playing for the Indian team, you have to be ready for every opportunity you get because there are so many players performing well and you cannot ask for one position. We have to be ready, prepare in the nets, watch our seniors who are doing well at that position, so that’s the way we learn,” Kishan said.
“It’s not just that you go there and you get to open, you have to wait for your time but when you get it, you have to capitalize on it. After playing so much of cricket, we get used to this situation that tough times will come but it’s important to be neutral at that point of time,” Kishan added.
