'Told Surya I'm going to take this guy down' - Ishan Kishan reveals plan against Tanveer Sangha

India beat visitors Australia by two wickets in the first T20I clash of the five-match series at Vishakhapatnam on November 23. India chose to bowl after winning the toss and the Aussies set a strong foundation with Josh Inglis igniting the innings with a brilliant century, helping his team set a challenging 209-run target.

Despite losing Ruturaj Gaikwad early, Ishan Kishan's aggressive batting turned the tables. His intent to challenge Australian spinner Tanveer Sangha was clear, a move he revealed he discussed with Suryakumar Yadav beforehand.

Kishan's innings kicked off with a quiet over against Jason Behrendorff, but Yashasvi Jaiswal's brisk performance eased any pressure that was created after Gaikwad's run-out. Meanwhile, once Kishan got himself in, he aggressively targeted the Australian bowlers, particularly Sangha, supporting Suryakumar's charge. He disrupted Sangha's rhythm, employing the slog sweep to perfection, hammering a couple of sixes and a four in the 9th over of India's chase, preventing the young leg-spinner from finding his footing. 

“I had a chat with Surya bhai. 'I'm gonna take this guy (down) wherever he bowls because we needed the close the gap between runs and balls. 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," said Kishan after the match.

India thwart Australia days after World Cup final debacle 

In the challenging pursuit of 209 runs, India showcased a collective batting effort against Australia in Visakhapatnam. Leading the team for the first time, Suryakumar, a standout in this format, asserted his prowess with a blistering 80 off 42 deliveries.

His explosive innings propelled India's chase, ensuring the team remained in contention while pursuing the colossal target. Following his departure, India faced a minor hiccup, but Rinku Singh's composed unbeaten 21 off 14 deliveries sealed the victory in their favor. 

Just four days post their ODI World Cup final loss, India clinched a thrilling win over Australia in the opening T20I, scripting their highest successful run-chase in this format.