New Delhi, April 26 (NationPress) Former Australia T20I captain Aaron Finch praised Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) left-handed batsman Ishan Kishan for his skill in interpreting situations and accurately evaluating conditions during the powerplay, as he scored a crucial 44 runs in his team's five-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Friday.

Kishan kicked off IPL 2025 with a stunning century against Rajasthan Royals but struggled, managing only 33 runs in his subsequent seven appearances. However, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, he took a measured approach to compile a significant 44 off 34 balls, assisting SRH in securing their third win of the season.

"His capacity to read the situation and refrain from being overly aggressive early on was remarkable. He ensured he evaluated the conditions, which is challenging as one aims to maximize the powerplay. Following an early wicket, he made a smart assessment and played well," Finch remarked on ESPNcricinfo.

Varun Aaron, the former Indian fast bowler who has a close understanding of Kishan from their time in Jharkhand domestic cricket, echoed Finch’s commendations regarding Kishan's performance.

"He is one of those players who, by giving himself time at the beginning, can go deep into the innings, and he accomplished that. Observing his approach, he didn't play recklessly at the start. He assessed the pitch and built from there. His team must be delighted, especially after his previous poor scores," he commented.

"In fact, he scored more runs in this innings than in his last seven. He must feel quite disheartened not to have finished it, as he was not dismissed by a particularly good delivery. A fielder was positioned right there (at deep midwicket), and he hit it straight to him," he continued.

SRH completed their chase in 18.4 overs, and Aaron noted that there were numerous positives for the 2016 IPL champions, who currently occupy the eighth spot on the points table. "A win is a win. Given their standings, Sunrisers would certainly value this victory, especially with Abhishek, (Travis) Head, and (Heinrich) Klaasen not contributing runs."

"Ishan Kishan performed well, although I wouldn't classify it as his best inning. Nevertheless, Nitish Kumar Reddy did guide them to victory... So, it's still a win. Yes, it was a bit scrappy. The wicket wasn't the easiest to bat on, but they have clinched the win. SRH isn't accustomed to such gritty victories," he added.

"They generally dominate their opponents and win matches decisively. This is a game from which they could derive some confidence, realizing that they can win even in this manner. They don't have to rely solely on aggressive play to secure victories in ten or eleven overs." SRH's next match is against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 2.