New Delhi: Ishan Kishan made his Asia Cup debut in style as he smashed a brilliant 82 against Pakistan in the first match of the tournament. This was his first ODI against the arch-rivals and he showed no nerves as he rescued India from a precarious situation. This was also his fourth consecutive ODI half-century, a feat achieved only by MS Dhoni among Indian wicketkeepers.
India was in trouble at 66 for 4 after opting to bat first at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. Ishan Kishan joined forces with Hardik Pandya and the duo stitched a record-breaking partnership of 138 runs for the fifth wicket. Ishan reached his fifty in 54 balls and hit 9 fours and one six in his 81-ball innings. He was eventually dismissed by Haris Rauf, who took three wickets for Pakistan.
This was Ishan’s seventh ODI fifty and he also has one hundred to his name, which was a mammoth 210 against Bangladesh. He has now scored more than 50 runs against six different countries in ODIs, namely Pakistan, West Indies, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Bangladesh. He got an opportunity to play against Pakistan due to KL Rahul’s injury.
Ishan Kishan also broke MS Dhoni’s record of the highest score by an Indian wicketkeeper against Pakistan in the Asia Cup. Dhoni had scored 76 in 2008. Ishan and Hardik also created history by registering the highest fifth-wicket stand in the Asia Cup, surpassing the previous best of 133 by Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh in 2004.
Ishan Kishan has been in terrific form in List-A cricket as well. This was his sixth century in this format and he also has 18 fifties in 91 innings. He has a strike rate of 95 and has also scored six hundred and 17 fifties in first-class cricket.
Ishan Kishan is likely to be part of India’s squad for the ODI World Cup, which will start from October 5. He could be the second wicketkeeper if KL Rahul recovers from his injury. Sanju Samson is currently the reserve player for the Asia Cup. Ishan has amassed 776 runs in 17 ODIs at an average of 49 so far.
