NEW DELHI: India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan credited the fans and his teammates after delivering a match-winning performance against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup on Sunday, saying the Player-of-the-Match honor was not his alone.Kishan said he approached the high-voltage clash with a calm mindset, treating it like any other fixture. He focused on watching the ball closely, assessing the pitch and target, and backing his natural game. There was no sense of panic, he noted, and he drew confidence from the plans discussed within the group. However, he stressed that the job is far from complete and that his focus has already shifted to the next game.
Continuing his rich vein of form in T20s, Kishan countered Pakistan’s spin strategy with authority, striking his second consecutive T20 World Cup fifty. His fluent knock of 77 powered India to a commanding 61-run victory in Colombo. Behind the stumps too, he made a significant impact, highlighted by a sharp stumping to dismiss the dangerous Usman Khan, who was attempting to rebuild with a measured counter-attack.In a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Ishan Kishan said: “Not only for me, I feel this is for all the supporters who were supporting us throughout the game, throughout the tournament, when we were preparing very hard. So credit goes not just to me, but to the whole of India. “I think I was just keeping it simple, like I said in the press conference earlier that day it’s just another game. You have to watch the ball and play your shots, which you believe in, which are on. You have to assess the wicket, how is it playing, what’s the good total for all of our teammates, I think they had that in plan and that was giving me much confidence. There was no panic about anything before the match or in between the games. I was just keeping it simple and playing my shots. No, I think the job is not over. So I wouldn’t say I’m very satisfied we need to forget this one and move on to the next game,” he said.After winning the toss, Pakistan opted to bowl. India suffered an early setback when Abhishek departed for a duck, but Kishan’s aggressive 77 and Tilak’s composed 25 steadied the innings. The Men in Blue slipped to 126/4, losing their set batters along with all-rounder Hardik Pandya (0). Skipper Suryakumar, along with Shivam and Rinku, then ensured a strong finish, timing their acceleration well under challenging conditions. India posted 175/7, with Saim Ayub (3/25) emerging as Pakistan’s most successful bowler.In reply, Pakistan were rocked early, reduced to 34/4 by strikes from Hardik, Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel. Usman Khan fought back with 44 off 34 balls, including six fours and a six, but lacked substantial support as India bowled Pakistan out for 114 in 18 overs to seal their third straight win and advance to the Super 8 stage.Axar (2/29) led the bowling effort, while Hardik (2/16), Bumrah (2/17) and Varun Chakaravarthy (2/17) also chipped in with crucial wickets. India sit atop Group A with three wins from three matches. Pakistan are third with two victories and a defeat, while the USA hold second place with two wins and two losses. India’s head-to-head record against Pakistan in T20 World Cups now stands at eight wins and one loss.
