Ishan Kishan played a starring role in Mumbai Indians‘ emphatic seven-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Wankhede Stadium in the IPL 2024 on Thursday.
Finding Rhythm: Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan, the southpaw wicket-keeper batsman, impressed with both his glovework (two catches) and a fiery 34-ball 69, laying the foundation for MI’s dominant performance.
Speaking after the match at the pre-match press conference, Ishan Kishan revealed a newfound maturity in his approach.
“There’s nothing like that I want to prove to someone. I just have to go there and enjoy it because I’ve learned that you don’t have to put pressure on yourself about things that are not in your hands. The uncontrollable is there, and you have to figure out what is controllable and uncontrollable.”
Ishan Kishan: Learning from Experience
Ishan Kishan acknowledged past struggles but highlighted a shift in mindset.
“If I had been batting earlier, if I had been the old Ishan Kishan, if they had been good bowling in the first two overs, he would have come under a little pressure. But with time, I have learned that 20 overs is a massive game. You can take that time. Again, you can believe in yourself and move forward,” he said.
Witnessing Greatness of Suryakumar Yadav
Following Ishan Kishan’s knock, Suryakumar Yadav unleashed his batting brilliance, scoring a rapid-fire fifty in just 17 balls. Ishan Kishan, like everyone else, was in awe of his teammate’s skills.
“It is always great to watch him when he’s batting. He’s a super player. He can play all over. He can just get any bowler under pressure. So, I enjoy his batting. We all do, every time we do, whenever he scores runs,” Ishan spoke with a happy smile.
Adapting to Wankhede Stadium
Ishan Kishan spoke about the unique challenge of batting at the Wankhede. “There’s no set score here,” he explained. “On a good wicket, you always aim to go beyond 200. We focus on getting a strong start and building partnerships, adapting our plans as the situation unfolds.”
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Ishan Kishan praises Hardik Pandya
Ishan Kishan also lauded his captain, Hardik Pandya, who finished the match with a flourish.
“He loves challenges,” Ishan said.
“When he comes on the field, his work ethic is very different, and I know he must enjoy it. I know him personally and have spent much time with him.”
“People also recognise your hard work, what you are going through, and how you are still doing well for the team…I just feel happy about him. His situation is that he is so keen on performing well, going there in the middle, hitting six on the very first ball, knowing that things can go differently and people can question you. But Hardik Pandya has that in himself.”
With a strong showing and a newfound perspective, Ishan Kishan has emerged as a key player for MI. The team now sets its sights on its next challenge, the Chennai Super Kings, at their happy hunting ground – the Wankhede Stadium.
