India vs South Africa: India's swashbuckling batter Ishan Kishan continued his exceptional form with the bat, scoring a 20-ball 53 in the warm-up match against South Africa on Thursday. In front of a packed DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, Ishan, who replaced wicketkeeper batter Sanju Samson as an opener, made full use of the powerplay before getting retired out. Ishan, who had scored 103 runs in the final T20I against New Zealand in the previous week, came out aggressively to form an 80-run partnership with Abhishek Sharma (24 runs off 17 balls, retired out) during the powerplay.
No Sanju Samson In XI:
Ishan is likely to bat along with southpaw Abhishek Sharma for India's tournament opener at Wankhede on February 10. Ishan departed immediately after scoring a fifty, which allowed India to take full advantage of their chance for one last practice before the main tournament.
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Ishan smashed seven sixes and two fours in his impactful knock.
29 Runs Off Anrich Nortje
South African pacer Nortje was left exposed as he got smashed for 29 in the fifth over of the game as Ishan smacked four sixes and a four. On one occasion, he even tried to move away from a bouncer, but Nortje's delivery hit the blade and sailed over the fine leg fielder for a six.
However, if Ishan was in his top form, Abhishek certainly did not appear in his usual elements but still managed three fours and a six during his stay.
Tilak Varma, who had proved his fitness and preparedness for the T20 World Cup after an injury lay-off in the previous outing for India A here two nights ago, was cleaned up by Marco Jansen after he had raced to 45 off only 19 balls with three sixes and as many fours.
India skipper Suryakumar Yadav (30 off 16 balls; 2 fours, 2 sixes) also looked to maximise his time in the middle even though his trademark leg-side flicks did not always come out well. Suryakumar also enjoyed a lifeline when he was dropped on 18.
Vice-captain Axar Patel hit a few lusty blows for a 23-ball 35, but it was Hardik Pandya who provided late fireworks, clobbering three sixes and two fours to make 30 off 10 balls before falling to Corbin Bosch.
Inputs from Agency