Ishan Kishan was under pressure ahead of the first T20I against Australia, having failed to score a half-century in the last 16 international matches in this format. But on Thursday, with the team in trouble chasing a big total, the stylish left-handed batter hunkered down and made a crucial 58 off 39 balls to help India clinch its highest chase in T20Is.
Incidentally, his previous T20I half-century also came at the same Dr. YSR ACA-VDCA ground last year against South Africa. In that game, Kishan scored a vital 54 (35b) as an opener to help India stay alive in the five-match series after being 0-2 down.
Even as his stock rose in ODIs — he scored a brilliant double hundred against Bangladesh last year, which got him into the World Cup squad — his T20 form dipped.
