Asia Cup 2023: Southpaw Ishan knows how to grab opportunities with both hands

Ishan Kishan during his 82 on Saturday. Pic/AFP

You may be highly talented, but still need to grab opportunities with both hands. That is what the Indian southpaw wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan has been doing lately. Though there was never a doubt about his potential, with a player like Rishabh Pant ahead in the queue, it was an uphill task to jump the line. But as luck would have it, an accident paused Pant's career. That has given Ishan a great opportunity to further his career. And that is what Kishan has been doing for the last few months.

Making most of Pant's absence

Even when Pant was in the team, Kishan made an odd appearance as a batter and did well for himself. But with Pant around it was always going to be difficult to be a permanent fixture in the team. Kishan had made an impressive debut both in ODIs and T20I. He had 59 against Sri Lanka in the ODIs and 56 against England on his T20I debut. But his best achievement came in the third ODI against Bangladesh in Chittagong last December, when he made a superlative 210. That innings turned his career on its head and has been going from strength to strength.

The 82-run innings Ishan played here on Saturday evening was even better and more valuable than his double hundred against Bangladesh. When the left-hander came in to bat against Pakistan in a Group A match of the Asia Cup, the Pakistan pacers were all fire and brimstone. India's top batters, captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, were sent packing by Shaheen Afridi. And when Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer too departed, things looked very bleak in cloudy conditions. But then, Kishan showed his prowess as he first absorbed the pressure and then gradually proceeded to dominate the bowling. His innings pulled the chestnuts out of the fire and helped India post more than a fighting total.

World Cup spot virtually sealed

It is quite likely that, had KL Rahul been fit, he would have been in the team as a wicketkeeper-batsman, a plan that Indian team management have, going into the World Cup next month. With Rahul still unfit, Kishan got his chance and has made the most of it, virtually sealing his place in the Indian team for the upcoming World Cup.

Also read: Pakistan pace it right

Kishan's graph has been rising ever since the recent tour of the West Indians. On his Test debut, he did not get much opportunity and remained unbeaten on one. In the second Test, he had useful outings of 25 and an unbeaten 52. That was decent enough. But his big moment came when he was named player of the three-match ODI series, scoring 52, 55 and 77 in his three innings as India swept the series. After such an impressive performance, there was little doubt that the Bihar-born Ishan would be in the Asia Cup team as a wicketkeeper, despite Sanju Samson breathing down his neck. And the way he batted against a strong Pakistani bowling attack, it must have given him plenty of confidence for the rest of the Asia Cup. If he continues in the same vein, there is no doubt he could emerge as an important player in the World Cup.