New Delhi: Ishan Kishan‘s blistering hitting set up India’s 30-run victory over South Africa in their only warm-up game ahead of the T20 World Cup in Navi
Mumbai on Wednesday.
Kishan has hit 103 in India’s fifth and final T20I win against New Zealand last week and carried on from there as he blasted 53 off 20 deliveries, including two boundaries and seven sixes.
The left hander stitched an 80-run partnership with Abhishek Sharma (24 off 17 balls, retired out) inside the powerplay as India posted a huge 240 for six in their 20 overs.
All of seven batters India tried out scored briskly, with Tilak Verma making 45 off 19 (3×4, 3×6), skipper Suryakumar Yadav scoring 30 off 16 (2×4, 2×6).
Axar Patel remained unbeaten on 35 off 23, with two fous and as many sixes, while Rinku Singh manages 16 off 13, including a four and a six and Hardik Pandya 30 from 10 deliveries with two fours and three sixes.
All South African bowlers were sent on a leather hand after which the visitors struggled to reach near their target, managing 210 for seven.
Kishan makes case
Kishan was a surprise entrant into India’s T20 World Cup squad, from which Test and ODI skipper Shubman Gill was excluded.
In the New Zealand series, he was asked to bat at No. 3 spot with keeper-batter Sanju Samson preferred as an opener alongside Sharma.
But Samson’s dismissal on low scores in all five of the NZ series compared to Kishan’s forceful hitting changed equations.
And with Kishan looking at ease at the top alongside Sharma, it seems he has settled the debate for the opening combination, just ahead of the global showpiece.
