Raipur, Jan 23 (NationPress) Following his impressive performance of 76 runs in just 32 balls, Ishan Kishan, awarded Player of the Match, emphasized how his achievements in domestic cricket played a pivotal role in overcoming his self-doubt, enhancing his confidence, and maintaining momentum as he transitioned into the international arena during the second T20I against New Zealand in Raipur on Friday.

India brilliantly chased down a target of 209 runs, winning by seven wickets with 28 balls to spare, marking the second-highest successful chase in T20I history for the hosts. This remarkable victory also set the record for the largest win in terms of balls left for a full-member nation when chasing over 200 runs, surpassing Pakistan’s 24-ball win against New Zealand in 2025 and Australia’s 23-ball triumph over the West Indies in the same year.

Kishan elaborated on the necessity of composed decision-making while chasing a substantial total, underscoring the significance of closely monitoring the ball, steering clear of unnecessary risks, and capitalizing on the powerplay.

"I concentrated on my responsibilities and maintained a positive mindset for this match. At times, when performing well, it’s crucial to be mentally prepared. The key is to focus on the ball and execute quality shots. We aimed to avoid risks and refrain from cross-batted shots. Chasing a target of over 200 necessitates scoring runs during the powerplay as well," Kishan conveyed after the match.

Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav forged a partnership of 122 runs off just 48 balls for the third wicket, swiftly transforming what initially appeared to be a challenging chase into a comfortable victory. With his aggressive approach, Kishan scored 76 runs from 32 balls, including a rapid fifty off just 21 balls, before being dismissed after mis-hitting Ish Sodhi’s delivery.

"It depends on how you're performing. I felt great in the middle and trusted myself. I was confident that, if I connected well, I would contribute significantly to the team's success," he remarked.

This explosive innings followed a successful domestic season in 2025. In the SMAT competition, Kishan topped the charts with 517 runs and played a crucial role in the final against Haryana, where he achieved a remarkable century in just 45 balls, becoming the second player to score a century in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final and recording the third-fastest century in the history of men’s T20 finals. With five centuries in the tournament, he now shares the record for the most hundreds in SMAT history alongside Abhishek Sharma.

He also recorded the second-fastest century by an Indian in List A cricket, just one ball shy of the national record set earlier that day by Bihar captain Sakibul Gani, who achieved the milestone in 32 deliveries against Arunachal Pradesh.

"I’m not sure about that. I was primarily focused on accumulating runs. It's vital to do it for oneself to resolve any questions regarding your form. Proving your capability to play for India makes scoring in domestic cricket even more crucial. The positive aspect is that we secured the trophy as well. Batting here, I carried over that confidence. Overall, it turned out to be a fantastic day for me," Kishan reflected.

Looking back on his time away from the game, Kishan shared a moment of self-affirmation, stating that he believed in his capacity to bat through the innings and deliver impactful performances, needing only runs to reinforce that belief.

"I merely asked myself one question: Can I replicate this performance? I had a definitive answer in my mind. I genuinely believe I can bat through the innings and play quality shots. I just needed to score runs to validate my capabilities. Even if I got out, my goal was to play well," he concluded.