Watch: Ishan Kishan smashes one-handed six to bring up half-century in stormy Maiden Test on Day 4 of second Test against West Indies

Team India’s wicket-keeper scored his maiden half-century in Test match cricket, hitting 2 sixes and 4 fours in just 33 balls as India declared their second innings at 181 for 2 in just 24 overs on a rain-affected fourth day at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Kishan had the third highest strike rate by a wicket-keeper in a Test innings, behind Adam Gilchrist and India’s Rishabh Pant.

Gilchrist had a strike-rate of 172.88 during his 58-ball 102 against England in Perth in the 2006–07 Ashes series, while Pant’s 31-ball 50 against Sri Lanka in a Test in Bangalore last year had a strike-rate of 161.29. Kishan had a strike rate of 152.94 during his 34-ball 52.

See here Ishan Kishan completes his half-century with a six…

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It’s a great way to get your first Test 50*@ishaankishan51

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,#INDvWIonFanCode #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/WIFaqpoGiD— FanCode (@FanCode) 23 July 2023

Kishan also achieved the fourth highest strike rate by any Indian batsman while scoring a half-century in Test cricket. Former India captain Kapil Dev holds the record with a strike rate of 161.81.

Highest strike rate in a Test innings for India (minimum 50 runs)

161.81 – Kapil Dev vs England, Lord’s, 1982

161.29 – Rishabh Pant vs Sri Lanka, Bengaluru, 2022

158.33 – Shardul Thakur vs England, The Oval, 2021

152.94 – Ishan Kishan v West Indies, Port of Spain, 2023

145.94 – Harbhajan Singh vs England, Trent Bridge, 2002

Team India also set a new world record by scoring 181 runs for 2 wickets with a run-rate of 7.54 while maintaining the highest run-rate during their innings (minimum 20 overs). India’s declaration meant that West Indies needed 365 runs to win the second Test.

Highest team innings run-rate in Tests (min 20 overs)

7.54 – 181/2D India vs West Indies, Port of Spain, 2023

7.53 – 241/2 days – Australia v Pakistan, Sydney, 2017

7.36 – 264/7 days – England v Pakistan, Rawalpindi, 2022

6.82 – 173/6 – West Indies v India, Kingston, 1983

6.80 – 340/3D – South Africa v Zimbabwe, Cape Town, 2005

“It was really special. I knew what the team wanted from me. Everyone supported me. Virat (Kohli) backed me and told me to go and play my game. Let’s hope we finish the game tomorrow. It was Virat bhai who took the initiative and said I should go in,” Ishan Kishan said after stumps on day four.

“There was a slow left arm bowler who was bowling. It was a good call for the team. Sometimes you need to take these calls. Our plan was to play 10-12 overs after the rain break and score 70-80 runs. We wanted a target of 370-380. I was in NCA before this. Pant was also there. He knows how I play. We know each other from under-19 days. I also wanted someone to mentor me and luckily he was there to tell me something about my bat position,” said Ishan Kishan, who is playing his second Test.

“There are many senior players who keep talking to the bowlers. It should be a good game tomorrow. We need to hit the ball in the right areas and getting early wickets is important. It was a dream of mine to join the Whites. I just wanted to go in and hit every ball. I am most grateful to my parents who always supported me,” he felt.