Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan hit his first IPL century this season while playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Rajasthan Royals on Sunday at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. He scored an impressive 106 runs off 47 balls.
Kishan said he had been waiting for this moment, knowing he had the skills to do it. Last season, he managed a total of 320 runs, including a half-century, while playing for Mumbai Indians. SRH picked him up for Rs 11.25 crore, making him their most expensive buy at last year’s auction in Jeddah.
“It feels great; I knew it was coming for a while. I was hoping to get this last season, but I’m glad I finally hit that hundred. The team has faith in me, and I want to do my best for them,” Kishan shared during the break.
He credited the strong start from openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, saying it boosted everyone’s confidence. “The captain has given us freedom and confidence, and I appreciate the management. When Abhishek and Head started strong, it motivated us in the dugout. The pitch was good, and our aim was to put pressure on them. We need to keep things simple with our bowling. Rajasthan’s bowlers are solid, but if we stick to our plans, we should be alright,” Kishan mentioned.
Kishan hit 11 fours and six sixes, helping SRH finish at 286/6 in 20 overs, which is the second-highest total in IPL history – just a run short of their record against Royal Challengers Bengaluru from last season. Along with him, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen chipped in with 30 and 34 runs, as Rajasthan’s bowlers struggled throughout the match.
