I'm afraid I won't be able to persuade them to dismiss Rohit Sharma or KL Rahul in favour of me as opener: After a scorching fifty against South Africa, Ishan Kishan

In the first T20I against South Africa, Ishan Kishan smashed a stunning 76 off 48 balls, but the visitors won by seven wickets in Delhi.

The strong outside margins provided two of Ishan Kishan's first three limits. In the first five overs of India's innings, he was beaten five times - some owing to actual movement from the pitch, the others due to his attempting to press the issue - but he did not throw it away. He hung in there and didn't hesitate to take his chances. Kishan's breakthrough came in the ninth over, when he timed a cut shot off a Dwaine Pretorious length delivery to perfection and got it to run past the point fielder. Kishan hammered it through the covers to earn yet another boundary in that over when Pretorious tried to adjust his length. That was all Kishan needed to get the job done.

In the 13th over, Kishan unleashed his entire fury. He backed himself up to match left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj's angle, and it worked. In the first four deliveries, there were two sixes and two fours. He was holed up in the last ball of the over, attempting to hit another huge one, but he had completed his mission. In the first T20I against South Africa at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, Kishan hammered 76 off 48 balls to provide India the perfect platform on which Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant would weave their magic to help India reach 211 for 4 batting first.

Unfortunately, it was insufficient. South Africa won by seven wickets as David Miller and Rassie van der Dussen put on a show in the second innings, taking full advantage of the improved conditions.

India's death bowlers may have disappointed, but Kishan remains one of the country's biggest assets. Despite the fact that he would have to sit out when regulars Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul returned to start the innings, the left-hander gave it his all.

"I believe they (Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul) are world-class players, and I will not seek their support in the team. So my task is to give it my all throughout the practise session. I have to show myself or do well for the squad whenever I have the chance. So I concentrate more on my process and what I need to accomplish here "In a post-match press conference on Thursday, Ishan remarked.

The 23-year-old Jharkhand cricketer stated that he will never urge the team management to choose him ahead of seasoned players like Rohit and Rahul, who have performed admirably for the nation.

"They have accomplished so much. You know, you've hit a lot of home runs for our nation. In the first place, I can't order them to drop them and force me to play. Yeah, I'll keep doing my thing; it's up to the selectors or other coaches to think what they want, but my duty is to give it my all whenever I have the chance "Kishan said.

Kishan declined to place primary blame on the bowlers, saying that the squad as a whole will work to improve in all areas.

"We need to figure out what mistakes we made in the bowling department or in the emotion area, but it's never a single player who causes us to lose a game. So, as a group, we'll sort it out "he stated

The second match of the series will be played on Sunday at Cuttack between India and South Africa.