IND vs NZ 1st T20: With India shrugging of disappointment of T20 World Cup and beginning a new era under a new captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid, the focus remains on the possible replacement of Hardik Pandya. As Venkatesh Iyer has been brought in as a replacement for Pandya, Rahul Dravid spent a good few hours watching him bat at the nets on Monday in Jaipur. Follow India vs New Zealand Live on InsideSport.in.
New roles 👌
New challenges 👊
New beginnings 👍Energies were high yesterday on Day 1 at the office for #TeamIndia T20I captain @ImRo45 & Head Coach Rahul Dravid. 👏 👏#INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/a8zlwCREhl
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 16, 2021
IND vs NZ 1st T20: Focus on Venkatesh Iyer as Rahul Dravid pays close attention to Hardik Pandya replacement in training – Watch Video
Venkatesh Iyer is all set to make his debut for India in the shortest format. As the BCCI has had enough waiting for Hardik Pandya to regain full fitness, they want to ready his replacement. Venkatesh is the first in line. In the next few tournaments at home, many seam-bowling all-rounders will be tried.
Added as a potential replacement for Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh is seen as answer to Hardik Pandya. According to the available info, though Axar Patel as Spin-All Rounder is also in the team, team management is keen to get a bowling all-rounder and Iyer perfectly fits the bill.
Iyer had a stellar outing with the bat for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL and can also bowl medium pace. Iyer amassed 370 runs in 10 games at an average of 41.11, including 4 fifties, and also picked up three wickets with his medium pace. Team management is likely to blood him in the XI from the word-go.
IND vs NZ 1st T20: Focus on Venkatesh Iyer as Rahul Dravid pays close attention to Hardik Pandya replacement in training – Watch Video
India will play a T20I series with New Zealand and then follow it up with two Test matches. The T20Is will be played on November 17 in Jaipur, November 19 in Ranchi, and November 21 in Kolkata. The two Tests will be played in Kanpur (November 25-29) and Mumbai (December 3-7).
Earlier in the day India T20I deputy KL Rahul said that the long-term focus of the side will be the next World Cup but every series from this point is equally important.
“The long-term goal is to focus on the World Cup but we will focus on the process and every series from now on is important. We will try to see what combinations are perfect for us and can be used for the world cup but right now we will be focusing on one series at a time,” said Rahul during a virtual press conference on Monday.
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