I realised I had reached my fifty only when Virat Kohli said ‘top innings’: Ishan Kishan

Jharkhand batsman Ishan Kishan had a memorable T20I debut as he scored 56 in just 32 deliveries in the second T20I of the ongoing five-match series against England in Ahmedabad.

Kishan replaced Shikhar Dhawan and opened alongside KL Rahul in this match. India were given a competitive total of 165 to chase but they lost Rahul early for a duck. The debutant then joined hands with skipper Virat Kohli to take the attack on to the English bowlers.

The youngster hit consecutive sixes off Adil Rashid to reach his fifty but it was only when Kohli praised him by saying ‘top innings’ that Kishan realized he had reached the milestone.

“No, I wasn’t nervous to be honest. To be honest, I did not realise that I had reached my fifty. Then Virat Bhai said ‘top innings’ then I understood that I’d completed my half-century. Usually, I’m not inclined towards raising my bat after a fifty, I barely raise my bat for celebration after half a ton,” Kishan said after the match.

Yuzvendra Chahal, who was also there with Kishan during the post-match interview, jokingly said, “Attitude dekh rahe ho [Did you all see his attitude?”

They shared a laugh together and after that, Kishan went on to reveal further that it was Kohli who asked Kishan raise his bat to acknowledge the crowd.

“But then suddenly I hear Virat Bhai say ‘oye chaaro taraf ghum ke bat dikha [raise your bat facing each part of the crowd]’. That’s what I moved around facing each part of the stadium while raising my bat,” Kishan concluded.

The youngster had a stellar IPL 2020 season as well. He amassed 516 runs at an excellent average of 57.33 and an equally good strike-rate of 145.76. His runs included four fifties and he hit a total of 30 sixes during the course of the season, which was just four less than what he had hit in the previous four seasons combined.

Kishan’s innings helped India to level the series 1-1 and that has set up the third T20I nicely, which is going to be played in Ahmedabad once again on Tuesday.