The Indian team were in an awkward situation in the third T20I against South Africa at Bengaluru on Sunday. Both Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer were walking out to bat on the fall of the second wicket during India’s innings. While the former strode out of the dug out rapidly, the latter was seen emerging out from behind the sight screen. Both of them seemed unaware of the situation until they spotted each other.
Virat Kohli went on to admit in the post-match press-conference that there was a ‘miscommunication’ between the team management and the two youngsters regarding their batting positions.
“The batting coach (Vikram Rathour) had a word with both of them and there was a misunderstanding about who had to go [out] at what stage of the game. It was a bit funny afterwards because they both wanted to walk in. It would have been very funny if both had reached the pitch,” Kohli said after the match. “There was a miscommunication there. I understood it afterwards.”
Pant hasn’t justified his position at No.4 in the opportunities that has been given to him. There has been a widespread call from fans and pundits alike to swap the batting positions of Pant and Iyer, with the latter walking out at No. 4 ahead of Pant. Kohli also admitted that there is a plan in motion to implement this move.
“We had it planned according to phases. After 10 overs we had decided Rishabh would walk in; before that Shreyas had to walk in. But both of them got confused and didn’t realize who has to walk in at what stage of the game.”
When Dhawan got dismissed in the seventh over of the innings, it should have been Iyer walking out to bat. But Pant went out instead and he got dismissed after scoring only 19 runs off 21 deliveries. Iyer batted at No.5 and he could manage only five runs of the eight deliveries he fa led as well.
With the T20I series ending in a 1-1 tie, India and South Africa will take on each other in three-match Test series next with the first game starting on October 2 at Visakhapatnam.