IND vs NZ: Ishan Kishan's underwhelming run in T20Is continues

Ishan Kishan, who recently made plenty of headlines when he scored a dazzling double hundred against Bangladesh in December 2022 has been struggling for form in T20I cricket lately.

Ishan, who came to open the innings for India alongside Shubman Gill in the first T20I of the ongoing three-match series against New Zealand, got out at an individual score of four after facing five balls. He was undone on the third delivery of the second over as a beauty from Michael Bracewell pegged his off stump back.

The southpaw has accumulated just 91 runs in his last six outings in the shortest format for India and his form seems a point of concern. In fact, the batter has not managed to get to double digit scores in his last three T20I matches.

Meanwhile, in the pre-match press conference leading into the first T20I in Ranchi, skipper Hardik Pandya had clearly mentioned that Prithvi Shaw will have to wait before he gets his opportunity in the playing XI. He backed both Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan to open the innings.

“No. Shubman has done very well. So he will get the first opportunity, given the way he is batting and the fact that he has already been with the team,” said Pandya as reported by Sportstar.

Prithvi, who has made a comeback into India's T20I set-up recently, opened up on BCCI.tv about his cricketing journey and how it has panned out post his Test debut.

"It has been a tough journey in these 18 months. There were people who supported me throughout my career, who stood besides me in this phase and kept supporting me even when I was not playing for India. Rahul sir (Dravid) and Paras sir (bowling coach Paras Mhambrey) have been there for me since I was 16. It feels nice to know that they are doing pretty well now," said the Mumbai batter.

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