India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan played a match-winning knock in the first T20 International (T20I) against Sri Lanka in Lucknow on Thursday. Kishan hit 89 off 56 deliveries, helping India post a massive total of 199-2 in the 20 overs after being put in to bat first. They then restricted Sri Lanka to 137-6 to go 1-0 up in their three-match T20I series as well.

The youngster was also named the Player of the Match for his stupendous innings – the highest score by an Indian wicketkeeper in the shortest format as well. While speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony, Kishan said that he wasn’t positive enough during his rough form against the West Indies. However, he kept everything simple against Sri Lanka, which helped him.

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“I got to learn a lot from the West Indies series. My intent wasn’t good enough; I wasn’t positive enough. I was just trying to keep it simple here – watch the ball, and play my shots. Pull is my favourite shot. Was waiting for the ball to come. They love to bowl short balls. I was waiting for that,” Ishan Kishan said.

Ishan Kishan again said that it was good preparation for the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year. There, the grounds are big, so the team will require a lot of practice for that.

Ishan Kishan said, “It’s a positive thing for the batting unit as well because you need to hit gaps, preparing for the World Cup in Australia. I was talking to Shreyas (Iyer) about the mid-wicket region. He said if you middle the ball you could get a boundary. If you hit the gaps, you can get two. And it went my way,” he said.

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Apart from him, Rohit Sharma hit 44 off 32. Then, Shreyas Iyer smashed a stunning knock of 57 off just 28 deliveries and helped to put up 199 on the board as well.