Former Indian batter Ambati Rayudu lavished praise on Ishan Kishan after Sunrisers Hyderabad secured a five-wicket win against Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Monday. 

Kishan played a match-winning knock of 70 runs off 47 balls. The wicket-keeper bat had failed to find his timing in the initial phase of the innings but found his touch when it mattered the most. The left-hander added 75 runs off 41 balls with Heinrich Klaasen to help SRH get over the line.

The southpaw scored seven fours and three sixes in his impressive knock as he batted at the top of his game after getting settled. Rayudu recalled that Kishan played a similar knock against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup.

Ambati Rayudu said on ESPN Cricinfo, “He played a similar innings against Pakistan in the [T20] World Cup. The wicket was very similar. It was stopping and turning. He was the guy who stood up and he has stood up in a lot of difficult wickets. That shows that Ishan Kishan is absolutely versatile. He can take on the bowlers and adapt to conditions when they are not great. He’s an amazing asset to have in the team and he has led the team when Cummins was not there. He’s someone who has grown into a massive asset.”

Rayudu pointed out that Kishan did not take a lot of chances when Heinrich Klaasen was going strongly at the other end.

“The knock was quite amazing. He played second fiddle when Klaasen was going. He did not take too many risks, but when it came to those moments under pressure, he picked his pockets. It is not like he threw his bat at everything. He knew they were trying to bowl away from him, but still he was composed enough to hit gaps. It was an amazing innings.”

Sunrisers Hyderabad were able to qualify for the playoffs with this win over CSK.