2nd T20I: ‘The Calmer You Are In The Middle, The Better You Get Every Day’, Says Ishan Kishan

Keeping It Simple: Ishan Kishan on Why Calmness Became His Best Batting Weapon

New Delhi: As India gear up for the 2nd T20I against Afghanistan, young keeper-bat Ishan Kishan is reflecting on a mindset shift that's been quietly transforming his game.

Kishan recently led East Zone to their first Duleep Trophy title in 13 years, and credited his improvement to one simple idea—staying calm at the crease.

From Fear to Flow

According to Ishan, overthinking was previously his biggest enemy. "Initially there were a lot of thoughts going on in my head," he admitted. "You have to get runs, make everyone proud, protect your spot in the team. That fear of failure creeps in, and suddenly you stop playing your natural shots."

The fix? Strip it all back. "When you're calm in the middle, you just watch the ball, not the bowler, and let your instincts play the shots. Everything else takes care of itself."

Trusting the Body

His current approach is all about reaction over calculation. "I'm not overtrying to play shots. My body just reacts. I focus on hand-eye coordination, watching the ball till the last moment, and reading what the bwl is trying to do."

From a sports medicine standpoint, this is textbook—when the mind stops interfering, trained reflexes take over. That's the difference between a tense, tentative stroke and a fluid, timed one.

Fielding Still Needs Work

Ishan was also candid about his keeping and fielding. Though athletic, he's dropped a few catches lately and wants to tighten up. "Dropping a good batsman around the 4th or 5th over when he goes on to score can be a huge difference."

His message? Keep it simple, stay composed, and let the skill flow. "The calmer you are in the middle, the better you get every day."

Source: IANS

Source: Cricketnmore