Former Pakistani cricketer Ramiz Raja heaped rich praise on left-handed Indian batsman Ishan Kishan and said that the latter has plenty of potential and talent and played with freedom.
Chasing 165 runs to win, Team India was in a spot of bother as they lost opener KL Rahul for duck and were reduced to 0/1 at the end of the first over.
However, debutant Ishan Kishan announced himself on the international stage in style as he flicked away the first ball for four and then later registered a blistering half-century in 28 balls.
He reached his half-century in style, hitting Adil Rashid for two back-to-back sixes and stitched an important 94-runs partnership with skipper Virat Kohli, who scored unbeaten 73 runs, which saw Team India chasing the total in 18th over and level the series 1-1
His innings of 56 runs included 5 fours and 4 sixes as he smashed English bowlers all around the park with ease.
Ramiz Raja said that despite Virat Kohli scoring runs Ishan Kishan was his hero. He added that the latter has plenty of potential and talent and played with freedom.
"Virat Kohli looked in fine form but with the bat, my hero was debutant Ishan Kishan. He has plenty of potential and talent and played with freedom. And I think he has come into a brilliant environment where he has a captain who applauds all his shots from the non-striker's end," Ramiz Raja said in a video posted on his YouTube channel.
Raja said that Team India gave Ishan Kishan the license to go and express himself. He further was impressed with Virat Kohli led side to get Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav into the national side following their impressive performances in the IPL.
“A license has been given which states: 'We are changing the course of our direction in terms of batting. You go and hit fours and sixes. No problem if you get out in the process. You are a certainty.' His and Suryakumar Yadav's inclusions were good to see.
Till the time, you don't give such prolific performers of the IPL the chance, won't identify outstanding talent, the progress won't be as effective," he said.
Raja further said that despite having short height Ishan Kishan is a sweet timer of the ball and added that the latter believes in sixes and not fours and is a game changer.
"He does a lot of power-hitting. He doesn't have much height but he times the ball sweetly. He believes his sixes, not fours. He is a game-changer." he concluded.
Ishan Kishan was awarded man of the match for his knock of 56 runs and became only the second Indian batsman after Ajinkya Rahane to hit a fifty on his T20I debut.
(Hindustan Times Inputs)
