Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar has lavished praise on Ishan Kishan after his match-winning innings against Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, a performance that sent Sunrisers Hyderabad into the IPL 2026 playoffs.
A calm chase of 181
Chasing 181, Kishan made 70 off 47 balls with seven fours and three sixes. He anchored the innings and set the platform for the successful chase, showing control throughout.
Speaking on JioStar, Bangar described it as a defining knock of Kishan’s IPL career and probably one of his best of the tournament. He said the standout quality of this newer version of Kishan was his composure, adding that he never looked rushed, which is a valuable asset in T20 cricket.
The Klaasen partnership
Kishan put on 75 off 41 balls with Heinrich Klaasen, and that stand laid the groundwork for the chase. Bangar also highlighted Kishan’s awareness, noting how he rotated the strike and accelerated at the right moments, and made sure Klaasen faced as much of the bowling as possible.
Bangar contrasted this with the other innings, saying the role Kishan played was what CSK coach Stephen Fleming would have hoped to see from captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. Gaikwad had a quiet night, making 15 off 21 balls.
Strong season continues
Kishan has been in excellent form all season, building on India’s T20 World Cup triumph. He has scored 490 runs at a strike rate of 179.48, including five half-centuries, and has been central to SRH’s strong campaign.
