Virat Kohli asked me to raise the bat after reaching fifty, Ishan Kishan reveals
Ishan Kishan had a dream debut as he struck a fifty to earn the Man of the Match award in the 2nd T20I against England. Ishan became only the second Indian after Ajinkya Rahane to score a fifty on T20I debut. During his match-winning innings, Ishan was so engrossed that he did not realize he had reached his fifty.
It was only after the Indian skipper Virat Kohli, who was at the other end nudged him to raise the bat that Ishan realized he had reached the milestone.
The duo shared a 94-run stand, which helped India stomp the target with ease.
In a freewheeling chat with Yuzvendra Chahal on Chahal TV, Ishan was asked if his nervousness was the reason behind not raising the bat immediately after reaching the fifty.
“No, I wasn’t nervous to be honest. To be honest, I did not realize that I had reached my fifty. Then Virat Bhai said ‘top innings’ then I understood that I’d completed my half-century. Usually, I’m not inclined towards raising my bat after a fifty, I barely raise my bat for celebration after half a ton,” Ishan Kishan said on Chahal TV.
Not only did Kohli ask him to raise but the bat also guided on how to do it properly.
“But then suddenly I hear Virat Bhai say ‘oye chaaro taraf ghum ke bat dikha [raise your bat facing all sides of the crowd]’. That’s when I moved around facing each part of the stadium while raising my bat,” Kishan added.
Ishan also credited Virat Kohli for giving him the freedom to bat the way he bats in the Indian Premier League. Ishan and Virat will be up against each other on 9th of April when their respective sides, Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore, kick off the 14th season of the IPL in Chennai.
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