We get to learn a lot from such games, says Ishan Kishan while praising Mukesh Kumar and Rinku Singh

VISAKHAPATNAM: Having played together in the last couple of months, this Indian team, though relatively inexperienced, showed that they have the wherewithal to not only handle pressure but also turn the tables on their rivals. On Thursday night, the second-string Indian team pulled off a thrilling two-wicket win over the strong Australians with a ball to spare and go 1-0 up in the five match T20I series, here.


Skipper Suryakumar Yadav (80) and Ishan Kishan (58) struck half-centuries to play a big role in the fabulous win but what stood out was the small but very important parts played by southpaw Rinku Singh and pacer Mukesh Kumar.


Mukesh bowled a very valuable 20th over for the hosts. What was commendable about the effort was that the Indian managed to keep the big-hitting Australians Tim David and Marcus Stoinis quiet by conceding just five in that over.

Later, Rinku proved that he can fill up the role of a finisher with an unbeaten 22. After the departure of SKY, Rinku ensured victory by soaking in the pressure and producing the much-needed big shots at the death.


"Rinku, you know, has done so well in the IPL and then domestic matches. And coming here playing against Australia, showing his calmness with the shots he played, I think he was superb today," Kishan said after the victory. "Sometimes we need to play these matches where you know you are winning it easily and at the same time the match gets close, so we get to learn a lot from those games where we have to take singles, where we have to hit in the gaps,” he added.

"Solid performance all around. It was not easy for the bowlers I know, especially with the fact that most of them are playing after a long time in international cricket. So, credit goes to everyone. It is a pressure game when you are playing against Australia. Mukesh, the way he bowled, he was very consistent. Overall, I think we were very good," the wicketkeeper-bat said.

Personally, Kishan, who had spent much of the World Cup stint on the bench, had a good day on the field. "During the World Cup, when I wasn't playing, I asked myself before every practice session ‘What is important for me now. What I could do’. I practised a lot in the nets. I was constantly talking to the coaches about the game, how to take the game deep. How to target certain bowlers.


"Being a lefty against a leg-spinner, I know how the wicket was as I had kept for 20 overs. When you are chasing 209, you need to target a bowler, who you can hit. I had a chat with Surya bhai that I'm going to take (on) this guy (Sangha) wherever he bowls because we need to get the runs and balls close," he said and added: "You can't leave too many runs for the batters at the back. It won't be easy for them to play the big shots straight away. I had to take my chances and I believed in myself."

Kishan and SKY were involved in a match-winning 112-run third wicket partnership which tilted the balance in India’s favour. "We lost two wickets early and partnership was very important. I played with Surya bhai in the same team in the IPL also so I know how he plays, what shots he can play... the communication I think was very good today in the middle. We were talking to each other about which bowler we have to target, to keep on rotating the strike. The communication, overall planning and the way we executed them on the field was where we had the game in our control," he said.

Young leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi had a difficult day in the field. He not only went for 54 runs in his four overs but also dropped two catches and missed a run-out. Kishan, however, defended his colleague. "It was not easy for the spinners, even when the Australian spinners were bowling, they went for runs. I know he (Bishnoi) is a very good bowler and has done well in the past matches. You have seen the wicket, it was not easy, the ball was not doing much, the ball was travelling a lot. Josh Inglis, the way he batted, and at the same time he had Steve Smith at the other end rotating the strike. It was not easy for the bowlers,” he said.

"We need to focus on what we could have done, we will get wickets like these in upcoming games too. Bishnoi, he just needs to back himself a bit more and he will do very well in the upcoming games," he added.

“We are a young bowling side, and everyone will not be having a good day all the time and at the same time, these matches where you are not able to execute your plans, we learn a lot from those things. Like what kind of field settings we need for a particular batter, and the bowlers will have to learn how to bluff the batters etc,” he stated.

“As a fielding unit too, we have to work a bit harder as we don’t have too many games coming up ahead of the T20 World Cup. Hence, it is time for us to tie up our socks and do the best we can,” Kishan said.