VISAKHAPATNAM: The young guns of the Indian team showed that they can handle pressure. On Thursday night, they pulled off a thrilling two-wicket win over a strong Australian outfit with a ball to spare in the first match of the T20I series.
Skipper Suryakumar Yadav (80) and Ishan Kishan (58) played a big role but what stood out was the important parts played by Rinku Singhand pacer Mukesh Kumar.Mukesh bowled a very valuable final over for the hosts.The Indians managed to keep the big-hitting Tim David and Marcus Stoinis quiet by conceding just five. Later, Rinku finished the match with an unbeaten 22. After the departure of SKY, Rinku ensured victory by soaking in the pressure after Ravi Bishnoi and Arshdeep Singh were run out.
“Rinku has done well in IPL and in domestic matches. Against Australia, he was superb,” Kishan said after victory.
“We get to learn a lot from these games — where we have to take singles, where we have to hit in the gaps. It was not easy for the bowlers, especially since most of them are playing after a long time. Mukesh was very consistent. Overall, we were very good,” the wicketkeeper-batter said.
Personally, Kishan, who warmed the bench for most of the World Cup, had a good day.

“During the World Cup, when I wasn’t playing, I practised a lot in the nets. I was constantly talking to the coaches about the game, how to take the game deep, how to target certain bowlers. Being a leftie against a leg-spinner, I knew the wicket as I had kept for 20 overs. When you are chasing 209, you need to target a bowler. I had a chat with Surya bhai that I’m going to take (on) this guy (Sangha),” he said, and added: “You can’t leave too many runs for the batters at the back. I had to take my chances and I believed in myself.”
Kishan and SKY were involved in a match-winning 112-run third wicket partnership.
“We lost two wickets early and partnership was very important. I play with Surya bhai in the same team in IPL also. The communication, planning and execution was where we had the game in our control,” he said.

Young leg-spinner Bishnoi had a difficult day. He conceded 54 runs in his four overs, dropped two catches and missed a run-out.
“It was not easy for the spinners, even the Australian spinners went for runs. I know he (Bishnoi) is a very good bowler. Josh Inglis, the way he batted, and with Steve Smith rotating the strike, it was not easy for the bowlers,” he said.
“Bishnoi just needs to back himself a bit more in the upcoming games. We are a young bowling side, and everyone will not have a good day. These matches where you are not able to execute your plans, we learn a lot from those things. As a fielding unit too, we have to work harder as we don’t have too many games ahead of the T20 World Cup,” Kishan said.