TimesofIndia.com in Colombo: On the surface, time is a luxury, survival itself is like an act of resistance, Ishan Kishan staged one of the most intense innings in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Against Pakistan, the pitch at the R Premadasa Stadium caught, turned and kept forcing the batsmen to check their shots as Kishan played an innings that put India ahead at 175 for 7.The left-handed bowler scored 77 runs off 40 balls while the other Indian batsmen scored only 98 runs in 80 deliveries.From the start, the signs were obvious. When Shaheen Afridi dug out a ball from short range, Kishan turned and fired the ball into the stands. This is not reckless bravado. This is intentional. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha personally bought the ball for spinners and got rid of Abhishek Sharma, the batsman that everyone was talking about before the match.What happened was a four-ball duck from Abhishek, who is yet to open his account in the T20 World Cup. Salman’s decision to open a bowling alley proved to be a masterstroke. After three dots, Abhishek decided to take a pick but the pass was poor and he mistakenly passed the ball to the middle where Shaheen easily caught the ball.Kishan understood early on that Pakistan wanted to cause damage on the ground. His answer is to stay ahead.The spin comes quickly and with it comes the real test. Off-spin balls from Salman Ali Agha and Saim Ayub immediately found their turn and the ball held on and veered sharply away for some distance. Kishan’s response was not to retreat defensively but to expand his options. Sweeps, sweeps, reverse bats and inside-outs followed one another, forcing Pakistan’s fielders to constantly readjust.Only 27 balls were launched out of the fifty, flying directly over the bowler’s head and it told a story that was more important than the numbers. It was a clear shot from Kishan, reading the length early and trusting his hands even if his feet didn’t always land. At one point, his right leg may have cramped, but that didn’t slow him down. If anything, it strengthened his resolve.Kishan showed rare adaptability in the face of Abrar Ahmed’s high ball. When the length is full, he goes straight. When it was short, he rocked back and stabbed through the gap. That even ill-timed shots were played safely is testament to how deep Pakistan were forced to set their field. The message is clear. The defensive line doesn’t work.The most brutal phase was against Shadab Khan. A floater in the middle disappears into the crowd with a ferocious sweep. Another slipped from his legs and was punished behind the phalanx. Pakistan’s plan to stifle India in the middle is being unraveled ball by ball.It wasn’t just the stroke play that made the innings stand out, it was the context. This is not a flat track designed for excess. The pitch required patience but Kishan refused to be trapped. He understands that in a high-pressure contest between India and Pakistan, momentum is as important as movement. Every boundary weakens belief and every six Pakistan fans remain silent in the stands.Fittingly, his dismissal was achieved through skill rather than force. Saim Ayub slowed down, pulled Kishan across the crease and let the surface do the rest. The ball catches, turns and clips the mid-section and top of the leg. Pakistan was visibly relieved as they celebrated.But by then, the damage had been done.Kishan walked back into the stands to a standing ovation, his 77 off 40 balls completely changing the trajectory of the innings. On a field where run accumulation felt like wading through sand, he sprinted. In a game where the margins are slim and conditions often dictate terms, this is a game like no other. It is fearless without being reckless, aggressive without being careless. More than anything, it’s a reminder that in the most important games, the bravest hitters don’t wait for things to get better. They bend them to their will.
