IPL 2023: “Getting that Rhythm Back” – Deep Dasgupta on Ishan Kishan

Former cricketer turned commentator Deep Dasgupta has shared how Ishan Kishan was timing the ball well during Mumbai Indians‘ (MI) IPL 2023 match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Wednesday, May 3. Kishan stepped up with the bat in Mumbai Indians’ thumping six-wicket win over Punjab, helping his side chase down a massive 215-run target with a quick half-century. The youngster hit 75 runs off just 41 balls, finishing with an impressive strike rate of 182.93 as well. And, Dasgupta suggested that Kishan had found his lost rhythm back.

Speaking to Cricbuzz after the game, he added: “The best part was how he [Ishan Kishan] was timing it today. He’s got runs, but even if he hadn’t got as many runs as he did, you could see that he’s timing it a lot better. The ball was pinging out of his bat and sounding good. You could see that he is getting that rhythm back.”

He added that Ishan Kishan’s partnership with Suryakumar Yadav turned the table in MI’s favour. Dasgupta also added that the two batters did an amazing job, despite the pressure of the required run rate as well, saying:

“That partnership set it up. In the first few overs, even though they were keeping up the pace, at that point in time, the asking rate suddenly went up to 12 and a half. Things started to happen when both of them opened up their arms. It was happening from both ends. Surya [Suryakumar Yadav] was doing what Surya does, but it was Ishan as well contributing massively. Suddenly, from that 13th over onwards, it just seemed like a different game altogether.”

Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav added together a stunning 116-run partnership for the third wicket at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali. Mumbai Indians ultimately won the contest comfortably with six wickets and seven balls in hand.

“Had an effect on his confidence for sure” – Deep Dasgupta on Suryakumar Yadav’s three consecutive golden ducks vs Australia

However, Suryakumar Yadav was going through poor form in India’s three-match home ODI series against Australia before IPL 2023, bagging three golden ducks in a row. While he was under the scanner for his form, Deep Dasgupta believes that he was just out of runs and not form as well.

The former cricketer said: “When people talk about him [Suryakumar] not being in form, listen, he hasn’t played enough balls to figure out whether he is in form or not. How do you judge someone with three first-ball ducks. You can’t really judge. I can understand when he has played an innings and it is not coming onto the bat, or he is not looking good, you can assess form. Yes, he was out of runs and it was quite evident that his three first-ballers had an effect on his confidence for sure.”

Notably, Suryakumar Yadav hit a fine fifty against PBKS, his third of the season. He scored 66 runs off 31 balls before falling to Nathan Ellis as well.