In the T20I series opener on Friday, Shikhar Dhawan managed only 4 runs off 12 balls. In the second match on Sunday, Kishan stepped in for Dhawan. He gave India the magical missing ingredient and amazed everyone with his international debut performance.
India's new opener Kishan whipped a 28-ball half-century. His left-handedness shook England's plan of using legspinner, Adil Rashid. Once Rashid came on, Kishan made 21 off 10 balls, including two sixes.
Kishan showcased evolution, giving a mix of his favorite square boundaries and targeting the arc between deep midwicket and wide long-on. He scored 25 runs in that arc and 16 square on the wicket on either side. Kishan dominated a 94-run partnership with Kohli.
Kohli appreciated Kishan, said, "He's a fearless character. He should continue to back his instincts. We had a conversation out in the middle where he understood and analyzed the game very smartly. He knew he was hitting the ball well so he kept taking his chances. But he was calculated. He wasn't reckless. And that's what you want to see in youngsters. Coming in, looking composed, still backing themselves but being aware of what the situation of the game is and I think today that counterattacking innings of his and our partnership [94 runs off 54 balls] was something that the team needed and he provided that for the team."
Kishan's Man-of-the-Match-winning performance on his T20I debut enhanced proved him to be a versatile player. "I feel that as you play higher levels in cricket, there's no fixed spot for you," Kishan said his virtual-media interaction. "It's not like you will only open; you keep on floating. Like there's a lot of emphasis on the left-right combination these days, so I don't think of any spot, I play the situation. I try to do whatever the team needs from me."
He won the heart of his Skipper Kohli as well the Ahmedabad crowd. "I don't know if I'm going to get this feeling again. It was truly looking all over the ground, and I was so happy that finally, I'm here," Kishan said at the post-match presentation. He certainly belongs and is here to stay!