After struggling in the last T20I series against the West Indies, 23-year-old Ishan Kishan returned to form with a magnificent knock of 89 in the series opener against Sri Lanka in Lucknow on Thursday, on way to India‘s resounding triumph in the first T20I.

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Kishan’s 56-ball 89, which included 10 boundaries and three sixes, is currently the best individual score by an Indian wicketkeeper-batsman in T20I innings, overtaking Rishabh Pant.

Despite the knock and the record, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes the teenager must demonstrate consistency in order to be selected for India’s T20 World Cup team. While praising several of his drives and pull strokes, as well as his knock in Lucknow, Gavaskar believes that the circumstances in the first T20I assisted Ishan’s innings.

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“Certainly, the way he hit today gives the hint.” However, this is merely the first game. He didn’t appear at ease in any of the three matches against the West Indies. That length, speed, and bounce were all unusual. The bounce was below the shoulder, near the middle of the fissure, making it simpler for him. But, without diminishing his innings, some of the drives and pull shots he played were fantastic, but this was only one inning. Let’s see if there’s any consistency. “Let’s wait for a few games,” he told Star Sports.

Earlier in the West Indies series, Ishan batted first and scored 71 runs in three innings at an 85% strike rate. The famous hitter believes that if Ishan shows indications of consistency, he may join the India squad since he brings so much more to the team.

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“Once the consistency is there, you can say, ‘This is the person we want,’ because he provides three things: he is a wicketkeeper, he is a left-hander, and he can bat at top and can complete the innings at 5 or 6.”

Kishan’s innings helped India set a goal of 200 runs in the first game of the series, with Shreyas Iyer also getting 57 off 28 balls.

India won by 62 runs after restricting Sri Lanka to 137 for 6.