RANCHI: Ishan Kishan was in "beast mode" against South Africa in the second One-Day International at the JSCA International Stadium on Sunday, and middle-order batsman for India Shreyas Iyer admitted he wasn't interested in invading the left-privacy hander's during their match-winning 161-run stand.

Iyer and Kishan shared a game-winning stand of 161 off 155 balls for the third wicket to help their team defeat their opponents by seven wickets and tie the three-match series at one game each.

Iyer combined superb timing and placement with exceptional footwork to remain undefeated on 113 not out off 111 balls, hitting 15 fours, the last of which provided the winning runs for India.

Iyer's century on Sunday was his second in the ODI format, and it improves his chances of playing in the middle of the order for the 50-over World Cup, which will take place in India the following year. "The celebration was minimal and merely instinctual. I didn't want to celebrate in a particular way, but I do want to acknowledge the audience. They showed up in large numbers, and the energy was electric. Iyer told Kishan in a video chat on the BCCI website, "I was enthusiastic about the match, as you (Kishan) described, about the wicket, how it's going to play, so I simply applied in my head in a same manner and things panned out pretty good for me.

With his 93 off 84 balls, Kishan demonstrated incredible aggression, hitting four fours and seven sixes, but he was unable to reach his first international century on home soil. An Indian triumph was far from assured by that point. Iyer also referenced Dale Steyn, a former South African fast bowler, when he described Kishan's performance as being in "beast mode."

"So, as part of (my) preparation, I merely arrived and took a few knocks yesterday (on Saturday), but I was unhappy when you failed to reach your hundred. Since you were in beast mode and in your zone, I didn't want to invade your privacy even though I only wanted to talk to you and think we could communicate very well. Nevertheless, we prevailed in the game; after all, it takes two to tango. Iyer continued, "I'm really delighted that we ended on a positive one and perhaps you'll get a century in the next game.

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