XtraTime Web Desk: Did Ishan Kishan miss the opportunity to elevate himself from a fringe player to a trusted cricketer in a franchise team? Well the youngster from Jharkhand did have a chance to redeem himself on Monday night during the match against Royal Challengers Bangalore at Dubai Stadium.
It was his effort along with Pollard’s that Mumbai Indians took the tie to the Super Over. The back to back sixes of Sri Lankan T20 specialist Isuru Udana in the last over against RCB was enough to prove his immense talent.
Mumbai Indians required 19 off the last over and at one point both Pollard and Ishan brought down the target to 5 off 2 balls. Ishan, who was on strike just needed to play sensibly, but he chose to play an extravagant stroke over long on, only to be caught at the boundary. Not only did he miss the opportunity to score his maiden IPL hundred but also give his side a better chance to achieve the target. Pollard did hit a boundary off the last ball to take the game into Super Over. The TV screens flashed a disappointed looking Ishan, still padded up. The youngster soon finds out he is not the three designated batsmen for Mumbai Indians for the Super Over.
MI Captain Rohit Sharma in his post match presentation ceremony said that Ishan was ‘drained out and was not feeling fresh’ to bat. Sure the humidity may have taken a toll on his body but it also gave him an opportunity to be a hero. There is no denying the fact that Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya and Kieron Pollard were the best options for Mumbai Indians. Yet, there’s a lingering feeling that the mental exhaustion took to Kishan more than the actual possible physical strain. Did he miss a chance to jump from a fringe player into the trusted list of a top-flight franchise?
There have been plenty of instances in the past and will be in future when a cricketer sets aside physical pains for the team’s cause. It isn’t to say he should have fought mental and physical exhaustion to stay out there for six more balls. He perhaps was actually too drained to do that and might have felt he would he pegging back the team.
But, it was an opportunity to put his hand up and show he’s ready. It was a chance to earn the trust of the franchise, his coach and captain. At the hind sight Ishan Kishan may have lost a golden opportunity of being looked as only a fringe player.
Born in builder’s family Ishan first claim to fame arrived in 2016 when he was picked to lead the India Under-19 for the World Cup held in Dhaka. The youngster impressed in his debut season in 2017 IPL with the Gujarat Lions.
He was brought by the Mumbai Indians for a whopping 6.2 crore the following season. After a promising start to the season, his form nosedived through the middle of the tournament. But his innings (62 off 21 balls) against the Kolkata Knight Riders stood out including four consecutive sixes against Kuldeep Yadav. He once again had a lean patch in 2019 IPL when he scored only 101 runs from 7 matches. The talented cricketer from Jharkhand will be eyeing to have a great IPL season this year and Monday’s innings was just an indication. With a little more focus and the ability to control his emotions, Ishan Kishan can have a great IPL 2020. Here’s wishing the youngster good luck.