India, Oct. 2 -- Ishan Kishan has a knack for playing important innings for India. In the Asian Games semifinals against Sri Lanka at Nisshin's Karogi Athletic Park on Thursday, the left-hander blasted 80 not out off 46 balls and played the most important innings of the day. And he played it while batting at No.5, not at his customary No.3 position.

Kishan is a big-game player to all intents and purposes. This was not the first time he played a match-defining innings this year. Against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup in February, when India lost Abhishek Sharma in the first over and some panic set in, Kishan calmed the nerves through splendid strokeplay, opening on that occasion. His 77 off 40 balls on a tricky Colombo wicket was a masterc...