Ishan Kishan has explained his 37 not out off 27 balls in the 1st T20I against West Indies: Shreyas Iyer was in better touch, so the keeper-batter just got off strike and let his captain do the hitting in their unbroken 137-run stand.
Ishan Kishan has made no secret of his role in India's eight-wicket win over West Indies in Lucknow. ESPNcricinfo reported on Wednesday 7 October 2026 that the keeper-batter consciously played second fiddle to Shreyas Iyer in the chase, telling the post-match interview: "Just get off strike and let him play."
| At a glance | Detail |
|---|---|
| Match | 1st T20I, India vs West Indies, Ekana Stadium, Lucknow, 6 Oct 2026 |
| Result | India won by 8 wickets, chased 172 with 32 balls to spare |
| Iyer | 102 not out off 43 balls, 10 fours and 6 sixes, maiden T20I hundred |
| Kishan | 37 not out off 27 balls, unbroken 137-run stand with Iyer |
| Series | Five-match T20I series, India lead 1-0, 2nd T20I in Ranchi on 9 Oct |
The backseat driver
Kishan was asked whether handing the strike to Iyer was an easy decision, and he said it honestly was. He felt from the other end that Iyer was in very good touch while he was not, so the plan was simple: keep the captain on strike and do not let the momentum stop. As he put it, his job in the middle was pretty easy, just get off strike and let Iyer play as many balls as he can.
Contrasting innings, one job
The numbers tell the story. Iyer raced to his first T20I century off 43 balls while Kishan worked quietly to 37 off 27, and the pair never looked like giving West Indies a way back in. Their unbroken 137-run third-wicket stand buried a chase of 172 with 32 balls still in the bank.
Why it matters
It is a small thing, a batter admitting he was not timing it and setting up his partner instead, but those are the innings winning teams are built on. India are 1-0 up with four to play and head to Ranchi on 9 October, and the partnership has already become the talking point of the series opener.
Read the full story on ESPNcricinfo. ESPNcricinfo.
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