Indian World Cup winner Sunil Gavaskar hailed Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan for his calm and composed innings in the match against Pakistan during Asia Cup 2023. The southpaw impressed everyone with his batting by scoring his fourth consecutive half-century in the ODI format of the game.
The Pakistani fast-bowling attack was brilliant with the new ball, reducing the Men in Blue to 48/3.
The left-handed batter absorbed the pressure to score 82 runs off 81 balls against the formidable Men in Green bowling before taking on the bowlers in the middle overs of the game alongside India vice-captain Hardik Pandya to help India post a total of 266 runs in 48.5 overs before rain marred the game on Saturday.
Speaking to India Today, Sunil Gavaskar lauded the left-handed batter for doing well in the crisis situation.
“Got to give credit to the young man for coming in a crisis situation and scoring 82 runs and having that partnership. I think if he was discomforted by some injury, it is only natural for him to think that because he cannot run fast between the wickets, he should be looking for the boundary.
“So, that’s totally understandable at all. So I wouldn’t point a finger at him at all. I would just pat him on the back and say well done to the young man,” Sunil Gavaskar said.
I Think Again No Praise Can Be Too High For The Way Hardik Pandya… – Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar heaped praise on the Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya for guiding the young Ishan Kishan through their partnership in the middle overs of the game. He praised him for a great knock under pressure.
“I think again no praise can be too high for the way he shepherded Ishan Kishan through that partnership. And of course, scoring runs himself hitting the boundaries, picking the ones and twos. And he showed that you know, in a crisis situation to rise to the occasion, that was terrific innings,” Sunil Gavaskar added.
Indian wicket-keeper batter KL Rahul is likely to return to the team during the Super 4 stage of the tournament after clearing his fitness test. Now, the team will have a good headache in selecting between Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul in the Super 4 stage in Island Nation.