Watch: Virat Kohli consoles Ishan Kishan as Mumbai Indians star struggles for form in IPL 2021
IPL 2021: Ishan Kishan, who has been picked in India's squad for the T20 World Cup, has been struggling for form in the UAE leg of the tournament. RCB captain Virat Kohli had a chat with the MI wicketkeeper after Sunday's match in Dubai.
In Short
- Ishan Kishan has managed just 107 runs in 8 matches in IPL 2021
- Pressure growing on young MI star ahead of T20 World Cup
- Rohit Sharma said the MI team mangement will continue to back Ishan
India and Royal Challengers Bangalore captain took a moment to walk up to Mumbai Indians wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan and put his arm around the youngster's shoulder after RCB's 54-run win over MI in Match 39 of IPL 2021 in Dubai on Sunday.
Ishan Kishan looked a "broken man" as Virat Kohli was having a word with him, trying to motivate the young wicketkeeper-batsman who has been struggling for form in IPL 2021.
Ishan Kishan set the stage on fire in IPL 2020 in the UAE, hitting 516 runs at an average of over 57 for Mumbai Indians during their victorious campaign last year. On the back of a dream run in the IPL, Ishan Kishan made his India debut in T20Is earlier this year in a home series against England.
Ishan did well in ODIs in Sri Lanka in July and eventually got a ticket to the T20 World Cup. The Bihar star was picked as a back-up opener in India's 15-man squad for the premier T20 tournament, starting October 17 in Oman and the UAE.
However, the youngster's IPL 2021 form has been a cause for concern. In 8 matches, Ishan Kishan has just scored 108 runs without single fifty. The left-hander was dismissed for 9 against RCB as Yuzvendra Chahal bamboozled the MI star in Dubai on Sunday.
Virat Kohli, who will lead India at the T20 World Cup next month, was seen having a lengthy chat with Ishan Kishan whose body language looked somber on Sunday after Mumbai Indians' 3rd straight loss in the UAE leg of the season.
Ishu almost cried pic.twitter.com/82LUj7GVcg — Neil (@RohitsBoy) September 26, 2021
Don't want to put too much pressure on him: Rohit Sharma
Soon after, Mumbai Indians skipper and India vice-captain Rohit Sharma played down concerns over Ishan Kishan's form, saying he does not want to put undue pressure on a young batter who is trying to make his mark in international cricket.
"He's a talented player. He's had a terrific IPL last year. We want to back his natural game which is why he came up the order above Surya. Don't want to put too much pressure on the guy. Relatively young, making his way in international cricket," Rohit said on Sunday.
Questions are being asked of a couple of Mumbai Indians' players form in the lead up to the T20 World Cup. While Hardik Pandya, who was picked as a medium-pace all-rounder, is yet to bowl an over in the UAE leg of IPL 2021, Ishan and Suryakumar Yadav are struggling to put bat to ball.