NEW DELHI: Ishan Kishan rediscovered his touch in the fifth and final T20I against New Zealand, producing an impressive half-century to reach the 2,000-run milestone in the shortest format of international cricket. The India wicketkeeper-batter also achieved a distinction on Sunday, becoming the third-fastest Indian to the landmark in terms of balls faced.Kishan brought up his 2,000 T20I runs in 1,345 deliveries, behind only Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav on the Indian list. Abhishek holds the record, having needed just 1,024 balls to reach the milestone, while Suryakumar got there in 1,164 deliveries.Fewest balls to 2000 T20I runs (India)
- 1024 – Abhishek Sharma
- 1164 – Suryakumar Yadav
- 1345 – Ishan Kishan
The left-hander reached the landmark during his knock of 61 off 32 balls at Seddon Park in Hamilton. His innings, which featured five sixes and as many fours, also included his 14th half-century in T20I cricket.Kishan needed 45 runs before the start of the fifth T20I to complete 2,000 runs and delivered when India needed a strong contribution from their middle order.He brought up the milestone in style, first dispatching New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner for a helicopter-shot four towards mid-wicket before clearing the boundary for a six.
Fifth-fastest Indian to 2,000 T20I runs in innings
While Kishan is third on the list in terms of balls faced, he is fifth-fastest among Indians to reach 2,000 T20I runs in terms of innings.Virat Kohli leads the Indian list, having reached the landmark in 56 innings. Suryakumar Yadav also achieved the feat in 56 innings, while KL Rahul got there in 58 innings. Abhishek Sharma is next, having taken 64 innings, before Kishan completed the milestone in his 69th innings.Kishan’s achievement came after a disrupted campaign against New Zealand. He had scores of one and zero in the first and fourth T20Is he featured in, while missing the second and third matches due to a low-grade right adductor strain.His return to form was particularly timely as he combined with Shreyas Iyer to revive India’s innings after an early collapse.
Kishan, Iyer revive India after early setbacks
India, asked to bat first after New Zealand won the toss for the first time in the series, suffered an early setback, losing Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson with just 19 runs on the board inside the first four overs.Kishan and Iyer then changed the momentum with an entertaining 107-run partnership in little more than seven overs. Kishan initially took time to settle, scoring 13 off his first 11 deliveries, before accelerating with a series of boundaries.Iyer was equally aggressive, taking the attack to New Zealand’s bowlers and particularly targeting off-spinner Michael Bracewell. He struck Bracewell for two sixes and a four in successive deliveries, with one of the maximums travelling close to 100 metres.Kishan reached his half-century off 28 balls with a six off Bracewell, while Iyer brought up his fifty in 22 deliveries.However, New Zealand fought back in the 11th and 12th overs. Blair Tickner dismissed Kishan, who was caught at deep mid-wicket by Nathan Smith, before Adam Smith removed Iyer for 50 off 23 balls.India subsequently struggled to maintain the momentum, managing only 57 runs in the final seven overs. Adam Milne led the New Zealand bowling effort with figures of 4/19 as India finished at 191/8.India had already secured an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series heading into the final encounter.
