Mumbai: India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan marked a strong return to the national side with a blistering knock of 76 off just 32 balls in the second T20 International against New Zealand on Friday, sending out a timely reminder of his credentials ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Backed by the selectors for a top-order role over Shubman Gill, the left-hander had endured a modest outing in the series opener. Ishan admitted that doubts briefly crept into his mind after that performance, but his counter-attacking innings against the Kiwis helped him answer those questions emphatically.
“I asked myself one question — can I do it again or not? And I had a very clear answer,” Ishan said after the match. “I felt I could bat through the innings and play good shots. I just needed to get runs somewhere to answer my questions. Even if I got out, I just wanted to play good cricket.”
Batting alongside India skipper Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan looked confident and fluent. The duo share a strong understanding, having previously played together for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, and that familiarity was evident during their partnership.
Ishan credited his recall to the Indian team to his consistent performances in domestic cricket, underlining the importance of scoring runs at any level to build confidence.
“I was just looking to score runs. Sometimes it’s important to do it for yourself, to answer your own questions about how you’re batting and whether you’re capable of playing for India,” he said. “That’s why it was important for me to play domestic cricket and get runs. The good part was that we won the trophy as well, and I carried that confidence here.”
While the knock was a major confidence booster, Ishan stressed that the job is far from finished. With three more matches remaining in the T20I series against New Zealand, both he and the Indian team will be keen to maintain momentum as preparations for the World Cup continue.
