Former Indian all-rounder Sanjay Bangar lavished praise on Ishan Kishan after Sunrisers Hyderabad claimed a five-wicket win against Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Monday.
Kishan played a key role in getting his team over the line as he scored a majestic knock of 70 runs off 47 balls. The southpaw scored seven fours and three maximums in his brilliant knock. The SRH wicket-keeper bat had failed to find his timing in the initial phase but stayed patient to turn a corner.
Kishan has scored 490 runs in 13 matches of IPL 2026 at an average of 37.69 and a strike rate of 179.48.
Sanjay Bangar said on Star Sports, “Probably one of his better innings in the IPL as well, because ever since we’ve seen the new Ishan Kishan batting, I think one thing that stands out is the composure. He doesn’t seem to be hurried at all, and that’s a great quality to have in a T20 format, fast-paced T20 format. And just to have that belief to hang on, and the kind of role that Stephen Fleming was probably expecting from somebody like a Ruturaj, did come from the other end, wherein Ishan Kishan did manage to bat till the very end and stitch together that partnership.”
Bangar said Kishan was guile in his knock as he did the right thing at the right time according to the match situation.
He added, “So, overall attacking at the right time, stitching together that partnership at the right time, giving the strike to Klaasen as much as possible at the right time. So, plenty of things to admire about this particular innings. Tremendous joy to watch him play in such a terrific fashion.”
On the other hand, former South African wicket-keeper bat Mark Boucher said Kishan has really matured with the bat in the last two seasons.
“So, he’s really matured as a cricketer in these last two seasons. They probably have been quite tough for him as well, because he hasn’t really been playing a lot for India, only of late. But he certainly has matured, and so great to see him follow through in an innings where he’s usually opening the batting, now he’s batting three, so it’s a different position.
Sunrisers Hyderabad were able to qualify for the playoffs with this win over CSK.
