HIGH RISK, HIGH REWARD

With Five Months To Go For The T20 World Cup In Australia, Backup Opener Ishan Kishan Is Fast Emerging As The Poster Boy Of Team India's New, More Aggressive Batting Template

- Arani Basu

New Delhi: It’s not easy being Ishan Kishan. For the Indian team management, he is the designated backup opener to Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul in T20 cricket. Yet, he is the one who invariably plays many matches. With the crammed schedule dictating that players often get rest, either Rohit or Rahul is always unavailable. And in the case of the ongoing series against South Africa, since both Rohit and Rahul are missing, Ishan has to play the senior opener’s role.

Now, here’s the catch. The Indian team is thinking of veering away from its conservative approach to T20 batting. The T20 World Cup is barely five months away. And Ishan Kishan has become the face of the ultra-aggressive brand of batting that India aspires to play in the World Cup.

"I have to keep doing my thing, it’s up to the selectors and the coaches whatever they think, but my job is to give my best whenever I get my chance." – Ishan Kishan

Ishan has to set the tempo up front for the others to provide a powerful finish. He has to make sure he scores enough runs so that he doesn’t fall off the radar too.