'There is a method in which he dominated' - Former coach breaks down Ishan Kishan’s match-winning knock against Pakistan

Ishan Kishan’s commanding 77-run knock proved to be the defining performance as India registered a comprehensive victory over Pakistan in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup group-stage encounter in Colombo. Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar believes the knock was underpinned by clear planning and situational awareness.

India’s decision to promote Kishan to the top of the order has paid dividends in recent matches, and Bangar highlighted how role clarity and backing from the team management have played a significant part in the batter’s surge in form.

“To bat like Ishan Kishan, the way he did against Pakistan, I believe there have to be a couple of factors that have to be to your advantage. Number one, he is batting at the top of the order. He has the backing of the team to go out and play by taking a lot of risks, which, at the moment, are coming off,” said Banger on JioStar.

Bangar further stressed the importance of form in the T20 format, pointing out that Kishan is currently making the most of a purple patch. 

“Number two, he is the man in form, and T20 cricket is basically for form players. So, he is maximising whatever form that he has. There is a method in which he dominated. It isn’t that he was targeting each and every bowler,” he added.

One of the most striking aspects of Kishan’s innings was his approach against Pakistan’s bowling combinations. Bangar explained how the Indian opener chose his moments, particularly against Pakistan’s lead pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi. Despite Pakistan’s rich history of fast bowling, Shaheen was restricted to just two overs in the match, with Kishan inflicting significant damage during one of them.

“Even till the fourth over, he first attacked Shaheen Shah Afridi in the second over, then gave respect to the off-spinners, and when the leg-spinners came, he took them to the cleaners. So, all in all, a very calculative innings. I must say that even though he was getting the majority of the strike, he was farming the strike pretty well and made those 77 possible out of the 88 runs that were there on the scoreboard,” Bangar observed. 

India will next face the Netherlands on Wednesday, with their qualification in Super 8 already secured. With form players clicking at the top and clarity in roles across the line-up, India appear well placed to carry their momentum forward.