My focus is firmly on the World Cup – Ishan Kishan

Ishan Kishan put on a show in the final T20I against New Zealnd, hammering a staggering 103 from just 43 balls.

His first T20I century saw India fire on all cylinders and put up 271 on the board that was more than enough to help them seal the series 4-1.

Kishan won the Player of the Match award for his game-winning knock against New Zealand. Talking at the post-match presentation, he opened up about how batting with Abhishek Sharma eased the pressure on him. He also underlined the modern-day mentality which was on display in full force in Trivandrum last night.

Talking about his knock, Ishan Kishan said, “Honestly, not much. I felt the ball was doing a bit early on, but batting alongside Abhishek Sharma really helps. You see his intent, you understand the momentum the team needs, and then you just try to watch the ball and play accordingly. That approach worked well for me today.”

Shedding light on how important are milestones in the current day set-up, Ishan Kishan said, “I think that’s the mindset of everyone in our team now. Even if you’re close to a milestone, it doesn’t really matter. If you start taking singles at that stage, you might feel later that you missed an opportunity to go big. So if the ball is there to hit, you have to go for it. The focus is on winning matches, not personal milestones.”

He concluded by talking about his immediate focus, stating, “I still feel I’m not there yet. Yes, I’ve done well and I’m getting these awards, but my focus is firmly on the World Cup. That’s where the extra effort is needed. What’s important is carrying this form forward and continuing to contribute there.”