NEW DELHI: During the ODI World Cup, Ishan Kishan had many opportunities to hone his skills under knowledgeable trainers while sitting on the bench. He batted and batted at the nets, making mental notes about how to use different bowlers in different match scenarios.
In the company of the nation's finest cricketers, including a pair of all-time greats, the 25-year-old Indian batsman enjoyed the fruits of his laborious homework a while back during the opening Twenty20 International against Australia on Thursday in Visakhapatnam.
1/10:1st T20I: Suryakumar Yadav leads India stat attack against Australia
AFP
2/10:India beat Australia
<p>India's two-wicket win is their second successful 200-plus run chase against Australia in T20Is after the six-wicket win at Rajkot in 2013. </p>Getty Images
3/10:Team India
<p>India is the only team to complete five successful run-chases of 200 or more in T20Is. </p>Getty Images
4/10:India's highest successful run chase
<p>The 209-run chase win in Visakhapatnam is India's highest successful run chase in T20Is. </p>PTI
5/10:India's highest total against Australia
<p>209/8 is India's highest total against Australia in T20Is, eclipsing the 208/6 at Mohali on September 20, 2022. </p>Getty Images
6/10:Suryakumar Yadav
<p>Suryakumar Yadav (42-ball-80) slammed the highest individual score on captaincy debut for India in T20Is. </p>AFP
7/10:SKY is the limit
<p>Suryakumar Yadav eclipsed the 62 by KL Rahul vs Afghanistan at Dubai on September 8, 2022. </p>AFP
8/10:Man of the Match
<p>Suryakumar Yadav was named the Player-of-the-Match for the 13th time in T20Is, his second award against Australia. </p>AFP
9/10:Ishan Kishan
<p>Ishan Kishan joined MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant to hit two 50-plus scores by designated wicketkeepers for India in T20Is. KL Rahul heads the list with 3. </p>Getty Images
10/10:Josh Inglis
<p>With his maiden T20I ton, Josh Inglis equalled the Australian record of Aaron Finch to hit a T20I hundred off 47 balls. </p>Getty ImagesAustralia leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha was the target of his assault, from which Kishan amassed 30 runs off only 10 deliveries.
"During the World Cup, when I wasn't playing, I asked myself before every practice session 'What is important for me now. What I could do. I practised a lot in nets. I was constantly talking to the coaches about the game, how to take the game deep. How to target certain bowlers.
"Being a lefty against leg-spinner, I know how the wicket was as I had kept for 20 overs. When you are chasing 209, you need to target a bowler, who you can hit. I had a chat with Surya bhai that I'm going to take (on) this guy (Sangha) wherever he bowls because we need to get the runs and balls close," Kishan said at the post-match press conference.
"You can't leave too many runs for the batters at the back. It won't be easy for them to play the big shots straight away. I had to take my chances and I believed in myself," he added.
1/10:1st T20I: Surya, Rinku help India chase down 209 against Australia
Getty Images
2/10:India's record chase
India skipper Suryakumar Yadav's 42-ball 80 and an unbeaten cameo by Rinku Singh helped the hosts chase down an Indian best of 209 against Australia.AFP
3/10:Rinku Singh's heroics
Rinku, a left-hand batsman who hit 22 off 14 balls, smashed a six that was not counted as the run off the no-ball got India past their previous best chase of 208 against the West Indies in 2019.AFP
4/10:'Chase master' Rinku Singh
Needing seven off the last over, India lost three succesive wickets including two run outs on ball four and five before chase-master Rinku got the team to victory after Sean Abbott bowled a no-ball.PTI
5/10:Suryakumar's captaincy debut
"Very happy with the way the boys displayed the talent on the field. We were put under pressure, but the way everyone came back into the game, was great," Suryakumar said of the win.ANI
6/10:Key partnership
Suryakumar's 112-run third-wicket stand with Ishan Kishan, who smashed a 39-ball 58, proved key after the hosts lost their openers on 22.PTI
7/10:Inglis' explosive century
Josh Inglis smashed 110 off 50 balls -- his maiden international ton -- to guide Australia to 208-3 after being invited to bat first on a batting-friendly pitch.PTI
8/10:Australia's blistering partnership
Australia lost an early wicket before Inglis, who smashed 110 off 50 balls, joined Steve Smith, who made 52 before being run out, to hammer 130 runs off 67 balls in a blistering partnership.PTI
9/10:Australia's T20 World Cup preparation
Australia rested many of their ODI stars -- including Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell and Adam Zampa -- as they plan for the T20 World Cup in June.PTI
10/10:Next match in Thiruvananthapuram
The second T20I match between India and Australia will be held in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.PTIWith one ball remaining in the five-match series, India took a 1-0 lead after chasing down a total of 209 thanks to Kishan's 58 off 39 balls and Suryakumar Yadav's 42-ball 80.
After India lost two early wickets in a large chase, communication with Suryakumar-who is heading the squad in this series and with whom Kishan has played a lot of cricket in the IPL-was crucial.
"We lost two wickets early and partnership was very important. I played with Surya bhai in the same team in IPL also so I know how he plays, what shots he can play... the communication I think it was very good today in the middle. We were talking to each other about which bowler we have to take, we have to keep on rotating the strike."
Young leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi conceded 54 runs in his four overs, making it a challenging day in the field.
"It was not easy for spinners, even when the Australian spinners were bowling they went for runs.
"I know he is a very good bowler, he has done well in the past matches. You have seen the wicket, it was not easy, the ball was not doing much, the ball was travelling a lot. Josh Inglis, the way he batted, and at the same time he had Steve Smith at the other end.
"We need to focus on what we could have done, we will get wickets like these in upcoming games too. Bishnoi, he just needs to back himself a bit more and he will do very well in the upcoming games," Kishan said.
The batsman-wicketkeeper called it a "solid all-around performance" overall.
"Solid performance all around. It was not easy for the bowlers I know, especially with the fact that most of them are playing after a long time in international cricket. So credit goes to everyone.
"It was a pressure game when you are playing against Australia. Overall, I think, we were very good."
With his undefeated 22 off 14 balls, big-hitting Rinku Singh led India to victory following the exploits of Suryakumar and Kishan.
"Sometimes we need to play these matches where you know you are winning it easily and at the same time the match gets close, so we get to learn a lot from those games where we have to take singles, where we have to hit in the gaps.
"Rinku, you know, he has done so well in IPL and then domestic matches. And coming here playing against Australia, showing his calmness the shots he played, I think, he was superb today," Kishan said.
(With PTI inputs)
