Man of the Match: The Indian top-order batsman was awarded the ‘Man of the Match’ award for scoring a match-winning half-century.
Advertisement
During the second T20I of the ongoing England’s tour of India in Ahmedabad, India beat England by 7 wickets to bounce back in the five-match series.
Chasing a 165-run target, the home team sealed the chase in the 18th over on the back of individual half-centuries from captain Virat Kohli and opening batsman Ishan Kishan. It was a 94-run partnership for the second wicket between the pair that put India in a comfortable position.
India back on level after the ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ tradition of giving the first game in a series to the visitors.
Great to see @imVkohli in full form & full marks to @ishankishan51 on a spanking debut. 👊🏽 .. let’s go win this boys. #BleedBlue 🇮🇳— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) March 14, 2021
Earlier, it was Kohli who had won the toss and chose to field. A disciplined bowling performance from India reduced England to 164/6 in 20 overs. With bowling figures of 4-0-29-2, India all-rounder Washington Sundar and pacer Shardul Thakur were the pick of their bowlers tonight.
Who won the Man of the Match today?
Kohli, who was coming on the back of a rare lean patch in international cricket, top-scored for the hosts with his 73* (49) comprising of five fours and three sixes. However, it was Kishan who set the tone for India with his fearless knock in his first-ever international match.
Having received appreciation from former India all-rounder and Mumbai Indians teammate Yuvraj Singh, Kishan justified the team management’s decision of opening with him and resting a senior player in Shikhar Dhawan.
Having scored 56 (32) with the help of five fours and four sixes, Kishan won the ‘Man of the Match’ award for making the most of an opportunity presented to him at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
“It’s not easy when you come here and play your first game. Mumbai Indians have taught me a lot. I’ve been there with so many senior players and they have given me very good advice.
“I think when Tom Curran bowled his first ball and I smacked him for six, that was the moment I felt I can keep doing this. I don’t know if I’ll get this [wearing the blue jersey] feeling again but I was feeling like ‘Finally I’m here’. This innings is for my coach’s dad, who passed away a few days ago,” Kishan told Star Sports during the post-match presentation ceremony.
