Ishan Kishan played a key role with the bat during India’s narrow two-wicket defeat against Australia in the first T20I in Visakhapatnam on Thursday (November 23).

Batting at No. 3, the southpaw slammed 58 off 39 balls to help the hosts overhaul the massive target of 209 with one delivery to spare.

Kishan’s knock was studded with 2 fours and 5 sixes. In particular, he was severe on Tanveer Sangha as the left-hander smashed the leg-spinner for 30 runs in just 10 balls.

After the game, Ishan Kishan addressed a press conference, where he revealed why and how he targetted Tanveer Sangha.

"Being a lefty against leg-spinner, I know how the wicket was as I had kept for 20 overs. When you are chasing 209, you need to target a bowler, who you can hit. I had a chat with Surya bhai that I'm going to take (on) this guy (Sangha) wherever he bowls because we need to get the runs and balls close," Kishan told reporters.

"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," he added.

Chasing the target, the Men in Blue were struggling at 22/2 but Kishan added 112 runs for the third wicket with skipper Suryakumar Yadav (80 off 42 balls) to bail India out of trouble. In the end, Rinku Singh produced an unbeaten cameo (22* off 14 balls) to seal the deal.

"We lost two wickets early and partnership was very important. I played with Surya bhai in the same team in IPL also so I know how he plays, what shots he can play... the communication I think it was very good today in the middle. We were talking to each other about which bowler we have to take, we have to keep on rotating the strike," Kishan said.

Ishan Kishan defended the young leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, who conceded 54 runs in his four overs.

"It was not easy for spinners, even when the Australian spinners were bowling they went for runs. I know he is a very good bowler, he has done well in the past matches. You have seen the wicket, it was not easy, the ball was not doing much, the ball was travelling a lot. Josh Inglis, the way he batted, and at the same time he had Steve Smith at the other end.

"We need to focus on what we could have done, we will get wickets like these in upcoming games too. Bishnoi, he just needs to back himself a bit more and he will do very well in the upcoming games," Kishan said.

According to the wicketkeeper-batter, it was a "solid all-around performance" by the Indian team.

"Solid performance all around. It was not easy for the bowlers I know, especially with the fact that most of them are playing after a long time in international cricket. So credit goes to everyone.

"It was a pressure game when you are playing against Australia. Overall, I think, we were very good."

Kishan was effusive in praise of Rinku Singh, who stayed unbeaten to take India over the finishing line.

"Sometimes we need to play these matches where you know you are winning it easily and at the same time the match gets close, so we get to learn a lot from those games where we have to take singles, where we have to hit in the gaps.

"Rinku, you know, he has done so well in IPL and then domestic matches. And coming here playing against Australia, showing his calmness the shots he played, I think, he was superb today," he remarked.

With this victory, India took a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series. The second T20I will be played in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday (November 26).

(With PTI Inputs)