WATCH: Ishan Kishan talks about Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar’s role in helping him regain his form
Ishan Kishan’s IPL 2021 season hasn’t exactly gone the way he wanted it to go. After a highly successful IPL 2020 season, during which he amassed 516 runs at an average of 57.33 and also got his maiden call-up into the Indian T20 squad, all he has to show to his name this season is 157 runs at 19.62. That’s a drastic drop from his spectacular numbers from last season and he was dropped from the first XI midway into the tournament as well.
However, Kishan was brought back into the team in the last game against Rajasthan Royals and promoted to the top of the order in place of Quinton de Kock as well. The Mumbai Indians bowlers also did a fine job to restrict the Royals to a total of 90/9 in their quota of 20 overs. That allowed Kishan the opportunity to bat without any pressure and bide his time at the crease. As it turned out, it worked wonders for him as he smashed an unbeaten 50 off just 25 balls to help his team chase down the target within just nine overs.
Later in a video released by Mumbai Indians after the match, Kishan was seen thanking Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav for the way they allowed him the freedom to bide his time at the crease without putting the pressure of NRR on him. To add context here, Mumbai Indians are in the race for the fourth spot along with Kolkata Knight Riders and NRR might prove to be a decisive factor.
Here is the video where Ishan Kishan talked about Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav’s role
Rohit didn’t even let him realise that we are playing for NRR Just because he was out of form and he needs to spend time on the pitch to bring his confidence and form back. These small things are the big difference between a captain and a LEADER….@ImRo45
pic.twitter.com/KCUmoubLWB
— Aryan
(@Rohitswarriorrr) October 6, 2021
“I just asked them, ‘are we planning for the run-rate thing?’ But they were like, ‘No no, you just bat,'” Kishan was heard saying in the video.
“I was looking for it but later on, I think run rate also is something which is very important for us if we win the game in the eighth or the ninth over,” he added.
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It was Rohit Sharma who played the role of the aggressor initially and thus allowed Kishan to settle down. The Mumbai Indians skipper took 14 runs off the first over and was ultimately dismissed for 22(13) in the fourth over off the innings. Suryakumar Yadav walked out to bat next and he also started attacking straight off. Watching that, Ishan Kishan also started attacking and that helped Mumbai to finish the chase soon and boost their NRR as well.