Picture Credit: BCCI
The ongoing 1st T20I between India and Sri Lanka at Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow brought the best out of Ishan Kishan. In the absence of few regular players, the Rohit Sharma-led squad had a terrific start in the first innings after they were forced to bat first. Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma opened the innings for the team and Kishan played shots all-around to complete his fifty in no time.
While disciplined Sri Lanka bowlers had a decent start to the game, Dushmantha Chameera conceded just 5-runs in the first over, followed by Lahiru Kumara's six runs in 2nd over. Indian opener started to accelerate the innings from the 3rd over of the game. Kishan, struggling to middle the ball in the series against West Indies, surprised everyone with his hat-trick boundaries in the 3rd over. While bowling the 3rd over, Chamika Karunaratne kept it tight as he bowled wide and a dot ball in the first two balls. However, Kishan seemed to be in no mood to spare the third ball, which came wide full-toss. The India opener put it away with a perfect shot at the cover, scoring 1st boundary of his innings.
What followed was something every Ishan Kishan fan was waiting for; he went for yet another boundary by placing the short and wide ball in front of the square. While Kishan already made his intentions clear, he firmed his authority in the third ball of the over by hitting the hattrick boundary.
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Karunaratne gifted Kishan with plenty of width, to which the batter waited and then dabbed it backward of square on the off-side. The third man was inside the ring, and the ball ran away to the ropes. At the same time, Rohit Sharma took a back seat as he let Kishan drive India's innings with his stunning shots all around the park.
Kishan wasted no time in getting to his fifty in just 30-balls at the strike rate of 171.43. Kishan's fifty comprised of six fours and two sixes. Undoubtedly, MI management will be happy to see their openers making a mark in the international game. Team India posted a commanding total of 199/2 in 20 overs courtesy of the Ishan Kishan's brilliant 89-run knock.
