New Delhi, Jan 24: India opener Ishan Kishan said his return to form and place in the national team was driven by a simple question he asked himself while away from international cricket: whether he could perform at the highest level again.

After being named Player of the Match in India’s seven-wicket win over New Zealand, Kishan reflected on the period he was dropped and said domestic cricket helped him regain confidence.

“I asked myself one question: Can I do it again or not? And I had a very clear answer,” Kishan said.

The left-hander explained that his focus during the break was solely on scoring runs and proving to himself that he was capable of performing for India.

“I was just looking to score runs in domestic cricket. Sometimes it’s important to do it for yourself, to answer your own questions about how you’re batting and whether you’re capable of playing for India. That’s why it was important for me to play domestic cricket and get runs,” he said.

Kishan added that winning the domestic title further boosted his confidence ahead of the international assignment.

“The good part was that we won the trophy as well, and I carried that confidence here. So it was a pretty good day for me,” he said.

Despite scoring at a strike rate close to 240 during his explosive knock, Kishan said he consciously avoided unnecessary risks while chasing a steep target.

“We were looking not to take risks, not to go cross-batted, but I was still looking to score as many runs as possible in the powerplay. At the end of the day, when you’re chasing a 200-plus total, you have to get good runs in the power play,” he said.

Kishan emphasised the importance of staying mentally composed during the innings.

“I was focusing on what I have to do today and just keeping myself in a good headspace. Sometimes you understand you’re batting well and just try to watch the ball and stay in that space,” he added.

In response to New Zealand’s imposing total, Kishan’s blistering 21-ball half-century, along with captain Suryakumar Yadav’s contribution and a late cameo from Shivam Dube, powered India to victory.

India raced to 75/2 at the end of the powerplay, the second-highest powerplay score for India against New Zealand, after their 76/1 effort during the ICC T20 World Cup in Johannesburg in 2007, setting the platform for a comprehensive chase.