When Abhishek Sharma hit New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy for a six in the third ball of the first over in the fifth Twenty20 International in Thiruvananthapuram, Suryakumar Yadav nodded appreciatively from the dugout.
When Ishan Kishan lifted a stiff bouncer from Kyle Jamieson over square leg for a six while the Indian captain was at the non-striker’s end, he nodded again in appreciation.
He might have been happy because not only India has discovered an explosive new template to support their championship defence in the forthcoming T20 World Cup, but also because India now has a core group at the top that can consistently carry out that strategy: Abhishek, Suryakumar, and Kishan.
However, of those stories, Kishan’s is the most endearing. A year ago, he had no central contract with the BCCI. He is now a valuable addition to the management’s plan rather than an anomaly. Although they were mostly on field, Abhishek and Suryakumar also had difficulties.
However, Kishan also had to overcome his inner demons, and based on his performances in the recently finished five-match T20I rubber against New Zealand, he has done a fantastic job of it. In four games, the left-hander scored 215 runs at a strike rate of 231.18.
After just four games, Kishan has surpassed Sanju Samson as India’s main wicketkeeper batter for the World Cup. Kishan’s significance in this roving batting lineup was explained by Suryakumar.
“We always knew what Ishan Kishan brought to the table. We have seen how he played in domestic cricket just before this series. We always wanted him to bat the same way, not change his identity. I think he was opening (in domestic cricket), and here he batted at No. 3. But we wanted him to be a game changer and whenever he took to the field, he batted that way. I think he has given a strong statement,” PTI quoted SKY as saying, while hinting at the Jharkhand man opening with Abhishek in the World Cup.
More significantly, India’s middle order, which consists of Suryakumar, Hardik Pandya, and Shivam Dube, is now less burdened thanks to Kishan’s elevation to the top order and high scoring rate.
“I really enjoyed batting with Kishan and also with Abhishek Sharma since the first game. I think both of them, when they play together, they completely take the opposition out of the game. The pressure is also very less on the middle-order and the finishers,” Suryakumar added.
Suryakumar’s insight can be validated by what happened in the fifth Twenty20 International. India were 185/3 when Pandya arrived at the crease in the 15th over. Kishan, who scored his first T20I century, had already established a solid foundation, so he didn’t need to take any unnecessary chances to speed up the scoring.
With a risk-free 17-ball 42, Pandya played his natural game and drove the total to 271, which at times appeared to settle around 230-240.
India’s T20 strategy has changed significantly as a result of Suryakumar’s comeback to form. With three fifties and 242 runs at a strike rate of 196.74, the Indian captain was the series’ top run scorer. After a protracted period of 23 innings without any runs, he was thrilled to be back among the runs.
“Obviously, feeling happy. It’s always good to get runs when you are leading a side, you always want to lead by example. I think in 2025 also it was the same Surya, this is also the same Surya. It was just that I was out of runs. But feeling really good, in a good mental space, very happy with what’s happening around in the team,” he said.
However, India has achieved success in other areas besides batting. On a field with short boundaries and flat pitches, Arshdeep Singh’s eight wickets made him the series’ highest wicket-taker.
“It was a high scoring game when there was heavy dew. Batters will have an edge over the bowlers. But the way we came back after 7-8 overs, the game is not only won in the power play, it’s all about how you come back.”
Finn Allen took the left-arm pacer to the cleaners after he gave up 40 runs in his opening two overs. However, in his last two overs, Arshdeep produced a far better performance, capturing four wickets and giving up just 11 runs.
“The way they came back, Arshdeep, Varun, Axar and everyone. I was pleased. You always want to be having your A game on the grounds like this. But the wicket was beautiful. It became even better with the dew, with the ball coming onto the bat nicely. But the way they responded, I think it was good,” Suryakumar noted.
Jasprit Bumrah had a rare off-day (4-0-58-0), but Arshdeep’s outstanding performance (5/51) enabled India overcome it. As a result, the captain’s praise of the team’s adaptability to different circumstances was not shocking.
“Whenever we win a game we also try to learn something out of it. Yeah, these five games were good prep before we start our World Cup campaign and me and boys are very excited,” SKY added.
