Ishan Kishan and Virat Kohli
Ishan Kishan and Virat Kohli (Reuters Photo)

Ishan Kishan has revealed that it was Indian captain Virat Kohli who made him realize that he had reached his fifty in the 2nd T20I. Virat Kohli also asked the youngster to raise his bat and celebrate after his maiden fifty on debut in the 2nd T20I at Ahmedabad.

According to the youngster, it was captain Virat Kohli who had nudged him to raise his bat after his maiden fifty on his T20I debut for India. After opening partner KL Rahul’s early dismissal without scoring, on Sunday, Ishan Kishan was joined by the Indian captain and the duo went on to share a 94-run second-wicket stand between them.

Ishan Kishan - Image Source : GETTY
Ishan Kishan – Image Source: GETTY

Ishan Kishan Generally Not Inclined Towards Raising Bat For Celebration After Scoring Fifty

The left-handed debutant reached his fifty without realizing that he had reached his first little milestone in T20I cricket. It was Virat Kohli who said ‘top innings’ making him realize about the fifty. Yuzvendra Chahal pointed out that Ishan Kishan had not raised his bat immediately and only went on to do it after some time. The spinner asked him if the reason behind that was his nervousness.

Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal (AP Photo)

“No, I wasn’t nervous, to be honest. To be honest, I did not realize that I had reached my fifty. Then Virat Bhai said ‘top innings’ then I understood that I’d completed my half-century. Usually, I’m not inclined towards raising my bat after a fifty, I barely raise my bat for celebration after half a ton,” Ishan Kishan said on Chahal TV.

The 22-year-old Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batsman was in his element as he hit a 32-ball 56-run knock that helped India seal a comfortable 7-wicket win over World No. 1 England. Ishan Kishan batted at ease after he was handed his T20I debut along with his Mumbai Indians teammate Suryakumar Yadav. Ishan Kishan was in glorious form for Mumbai Indians during IPL 2020 as he showcased his versatility and scored 516 runs in 14 matches averaging 57.33.

Ishan Kishan Reveals Virat Kohli Asked Him To Raise His Bat Facing Crowd

Not only that, it was Virat Kohli who had asked Ishan Kishan to raise his bat and move around to face the crowd in Ahmedabad while celebrating.

Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

“But then suddenly I hear Virat Bhai said to raise your bat facing each part of the crowd. That’s what I moved around facing each part of the stadium while raising my bat,” Kishan added.

Ishan Kishan departed after a 32-ball 56 in the 2nd T20I, which India won by seven wickets on Sunday. Ishan Kishan got to his fifty with a six against leg-spinner Adil Rashid as he became only the 2nd India batsman to hit a fifty on T20I debut after Ajinkya Rahane in 2011.

Virat Kohli also hit an unbeaten 73 off 49 balls as he roared back to form after a string of low scores against England at home. India got to the 165-run target in just 17.5 overs. The five-match T20I series between India and England, with all matches in Ahmedabad, is currently level at 1-1 and the 3rd T20I will be played on Tuesday (March 16).