Patna boy Ishan Kishan shines in his T20 debut; gets praises from legends

Patna’s Ishan Kishan scored a half-century in his debut international cricket match against England on Sunday has brought him accolades from across the country.
Former cricketers Krishnamachari Srikkanth, Sanjay Manjrekar, Virender Sehwag, and Irfan Pathan have tweeted praising Ishan’s half-century in his debut T-20 match at Ahmadabad on Sunday. Back home, his feat was praised by governor Phagu Chauhan, who said Ishan will be an inspiration for other players from the state and will continue to make Bihar and the country proud.
The 22-year old left-handed batsman, who not only scored 56 runs but also won the Man of the Match award, was born on July 18, 1998, in Patna. He started playing for Jharkhand in the 2014-15 season as Bihar did not have a team registered with the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) owing to a dispute between rival cricket associations here.
Kishan’s family members and friends are overwhelmed by his feat and the all-round praise he is getting. His coach and fellow cricketers are as elated.

Ishan’s father Pranav Kumar Pandey told this newspaper on Monday, "It is always a proud moment for a father to be known by his son’s name. We are feeling very proud at the moment. The way he is playing with such maturity, we are certain that he will grow even more in his career. He should utilise the opportunities and learn from his senior players."
Pandey, who is a businessman, further said, "We were so impressed by his dedication towards cricket since childhood that we never stopped him from chasing his dreams."

WRD and information and public relations department minister Sanjay Jha met Ishan`s father on Monday and congratulated him for his son’s achievement.
Ishan’s mother Suchitra Singh, a lawyer, said she`s on cloud nine since Sunday after her son became the second Indian player to score a half-century in his first international cricket match.
"We are pleased as we were eagerly waiting for this day to come. He has fulfilled all our dreams and made us very proud and I pray that he continues to play well," she said.

Ishan`s mother added, "A mother’s intuitions are never wrong. He had a passion for cricket even as a child and he has proved himself."

Amikar Dayal, who was Ishan’s first cricket coach in Patna, said he trained Ishan since the latter was six. "It was highly expected of him to play well in his debut match I was very hopeful that he will be excellent on the field. To score more than 50 runs in the first match is a big deal for a youngster. He will give his best in his second match as well and I expect him to play better inning," he said.

Dayal, who is the chairperson of a Patna-based cricket academy, added, "I was also a left-handed batsman, so it was quite easy for us to communicate and that helped him a lot. It was also easier for me to guide him as I knew what is convenient for a left-handed batsman."

On the success of Ishan, the president of Bihar Players Association and RJD spokesperson, Mritunjay Tiwari, said: "Ishan has won the hearts of not only the people of Bihar but the entire country. He is the son of the soil of Bihar, and we are very proud and overwhelmed. We expect to see him soon playing test cricket as well."

Other budding cricketers in the city also praised Ishan. Kumar Mridul, a player in Bihar’s Ranji Trophy team said, "The kind of Cricket he has been playing, down the line it was expected from him. I wish for him that he goes on to play for India in all three formats."

If You Like This Story, Support NYOOOZ

NYOOOZ SUPPORTER

₹ 10 - ₹ 1000

NYOOOZ FRIEND

₹ 2000 - ₹ 5000

Your support to NYOOOZ will help us to continue create and publish news for and from smaller cities, which also need equal voice as much as citizens living in bigger cities have through mainstream media organizations.

Stay updated with all the Latest Patna headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.