Former India opener turned coach Wasim Jaffer on Thursday applauded Ishan Kishan as a “short guy” who gives a “solid punch.” The young wicketkeeper-batsman scored a swashbuckling 56-ball 89 in the first India-Sri Lanka T20I in Lucknow on Thursday.
However, his position as the opening batsman was in doubt after his three poor outings – 71 runs which came at 23.67 – against West Indies. However, an injury to reserve opener Ruturaj Gaikwad gave him another opportunity as well. While speaking to ESPNcricinfo after the match, Jaffer said that Kishan was lucky with Gaikwad’s injury, as he showed his power and did exceptionally well.
READ HERE: Gary Kirsten all set to work with Hardik Pandya
Wasim Jaffer said: “He needed that game. He was lucky that Ruturaj got injured just before the game and he could play that knock. I think Sri Lanka helped him by bowling short and wide. The surface as well, the Lucknow pitch was the ideal batting pitch. The ground was big but I think Sri Lanka bowled him a bit wide and short and he made full use of it.”
He further added: “And full credit to him. Such a short guy and he packs a solid punch. On such a big ground as well, he hit some massive sixes, he hits the ball so hard. He’ll be very, very pleased. I think the Indian camp will be very, very pleased because they showed a lot of faith and he grabbed this opportunity with both hands.”
Wasim Jaffer was also impressed with Shreyas Iyer’s performance. The newly-appointed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain, smashed a 28-ball 57 after Kishan’s dismissal. The second T20I will take place at 7:00 pm IST on Saturday in Dharamsala.
READ HERE: India will struggle if Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma don’t score, says Mohammad Hafeez
“Because we’ve got such a bench strength, especially in batting, anybody who gets a game has to make the most of it otherwise there are players in the waiting. Shreyas, obviously, keeps making those performances and I think it was very, very important for him to get a game and play an innings like that as well for his own confidence as well. He played outstandingly well, hit some massive sixes and that’s something which he can do. He can bat No. 3, No. 4 and I am pleased to see him strike the ball so sweetly,” Wasim Jaffer again shared.
“Seven bowling options is something we don’t see a lot of time… He (Rohit Sharma) could use Deepak Hooda and Venkatesh Iyer because of the game we had. We kind of had the perfect game, apart from the couple of catches we dropped, I think we played the perfect game… I think we need to see this kind of team with more bowling options where the batters can bowl [more often], it certainly gives the captain a lot more options in tough situations,” Wasim Jaffer signed off.
