I had told everyone in the dressing room that I will hit six off first ball: Ishan Kishan

Ishan Kishan was in no mood to die wondering in India’s opening ODI against Sri Lanka on Sunday, July 18 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Batting at No.3 during the run-chase, he smashed Dhananjaya de Silva for a six down the ground. In his first ball in ODI cricket, the southpaw charged down the track and cleared the ropes with utmost ease and elegance.

In the very next ball, Dhananjaya tried to compensate with a full and wide delivery, but Kishan was equal to the task. He smashed the ball for a four through the point region. He went on to score 59 runs off 42 balls with the help of eight fours and two sixes at a strike rate of 140.48. He also became the 16th Indian to notch an ODI half-century on debut.

In fact, on Sunday, Kishan celebrated his 23rd birthday and he made it even more memorable with the fifty. Lakshan Sandakan ended his stay in the middle but by then, Kishan had already put the Men in Blue on the driver’s seat.

Everyone knew this: Ishan Kishan

In the meantime, Kishan, who made his T20I debut earlier this year against England, opened up on his first-ball six. The southpaw said that he backed himself since the pitch was good for batting and had very little for the bowlers.

“I had already told everyone in the dressing room that I would Hit a Six on the First Ball. Wherever the ball is, I’ll hit a Six. Everyone knew this. Because the odds were on my side, pitch good, My Birthday & My First ODI match,” Kishan was quoted as saying to Sony.

Kishan was involved in a partnership of 95 runs with Indian skipper Shikhar Dhawan, who scored an unbeaten 95-ball 86 with six fours and one six. When Kishan got out, India were placed at 143 for the loss of two wickets in a mere 17.5 overs.

India chased down 263 with 80 balls to spare and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Prithvi Shaw became the Player of the Match for his quick-fire 24-ball 43 with nine fours.