India keeper-batter Ishan Kishan stole the show during the conversation part as the Men in Blue contingent was hosted at a dinner by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) in Delhi on Wednesday, September 16.
Notably, a three-match T20I series between India and Afghanistan is presently underway at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium. With victories in the first two games, India has already won the series.
Kishan was asked a question, and he opened his speech with “Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem," which has gone viral on social media. His opening had both the Indian and Afghan players laughing, with the crowd joining in, and the video has gone viral.
The young cricketer went on to laud the Afghanistan players and underline the friendship they had formed with Indian cricketers through their participation in the IPL.
“It is always enjoyable playing against them (Afghanistan) because many of us have also played together in the IPL, and we know what wonderful human beings they are. There is always something to learn from them. In particular, I played with Nabi Bhai at Mumbai Indians, and he helped me a lot during batting sessions,” Kishan said at the event, as per ANI.
He also mentioned that veteran Mohammad Nabi has frequently provided him with significant insights into planning and strategy. Kishan also commended Afghanistan's unwavering determination and desire to establish their presence.
“One of the most impressive qualities about the Afghanistan team is their hunger and determination. Whenever we play against them, you can see how eager they are to take wickets and compete at the highest level,” he said.
Ishan Kishan has made 42 and 38* in the two T20Is against Afghanistan. He had come into the Afghanistan T20Is on the back of a marathon batting effort for the East Zone in the Duleep Trophy 2026 final against the South Zone. He had scored 270 and 80 and earned the Player of the Match as he helped the East Zone win the Duleep Trophy.
He acknowledged being spent after his batting effort in the Duleep Trophy but accepted it was a part and parcel of being a cricketer who plays all the formats. He said players need a unique state of mind for each format, and this requirement has not posed a major difficulty for India because its players play in many formats of cricket.
"You know, as a professional, I think when it changes, we just have to adapt as soon as possible. We need to get into that zone again and again because this experience is not the first time we are doing this. We keep on playing different formats, and then we come back to T20 cricket. Yeah, it takes a bit of time to get along with the game sometimes, but at the same time, you know, you need to be just calm and composed in the middle so that you get the best out of yourself," said Kishan in a video posted by BCCI.
The third and final T20I will be played on September 17, 2026, in Delhi.
(ANI inputs)
