RAIPUR: Just two months ago, Ishan Kishan's prospects of rejoining the Indian national cricket team appeared distant. However, a remarkable turnaround began when he led Jharkhand to their first-ever Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title, emerging as the tournament's top scorer with a century in the final. This stellar performance reignited his career, earning him a coveted spot in India's T20 World Cup squad.
Seizing the Opportunity
Fortune further favored the left-handed batsman when an injury to Tilak Varma opened up the No. 3 batting position for the first three matches of the T20I series against New Zealand. After a quiet outing in the opening match at Nagpur, Kishan unleashed his full potential on Friday, delivering a masterclass in aggressive batting that left spectators and opponents in awe.
A Display of Power Hitting
The 27-year-old showcased why he's considered one of India's most destructive batsmen, hammering 76 runs off just 32 deliveries. His innings featured 11 boundaries and four massive sixes, achieving a staggering strike rate of 237.5. This marked his seventh T20I half-century and completely shifted the momentum in India's favor during a challenging chase.
India faced early adversity when openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma departed within the first seven balls, leaving the team at 15/2. Kishan responded with immediate counter-attacking cricket, putting New Zealand's bowlers under immense pressure from the outset.
Partnership Excellence
Kishan combined forces with captain Suryakumar Yadav to forge a devastating 122-run partnership for the third wicket, achieved in just 49 balls. Suryakumar, who remained unbeaten on 82 from 37 deliveries (9 fours, 4 sixes), watched appreciatively from the non-striker's end as Kishan dismantled the bowling attack. The skipper acknowledged his former Mumbai Indians teammate's brilliance with a heartfelt hug as Kishan returned to the dugout after his dismissal by Ish Sodhi in the 10th over.
By the time Kishan departed, India had transformed the required run rate to below eight runs per over, setting the stage for a comfortable finish. Suryakumar then joined forces with Shivam Dube to add an unbroken 81 runs for the fourth wicket in just 37 balls, applying the finishing touches to secure victory with 4.4 overs remaining.
Supporting Cast Contributions
Shivam Dube played a crucial supporting role with his 18-ball 36, while Suryakumar's innings marked his first half-century since scoring 75 against Bangladesh in Hyderabad back in October 2024. The comprehensive performance gave India a commanding 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
New Zealand's Innings
Earlier in the match, New Zealand had posted a competitive 208/8 after being asked to bat first. The visitors began strongly with openers Devon Conway (19 off 9 balls) and Tim Seifert (24 off 13 balls) racing to 43/0 by the third over. However, the Indian bowling unit staged a smart recovery, with Harshit Rana (1/25) and Varun Chakravarthy (1/35) breaking the opening partnership and applying brakes to New Zealand's scoring rate.
The Indian bowlers maintained discipline through the middle overs, preventing New Zealand from building substantial partnerships and restricting them to a total that proved insufficient against India's formidable batting lineup.
