Virat Kohli reveals batting order fiasco during Bangalore T20I

Indian skipper Virat Kohli has revealed that there was a big miscommunication within the team management over the batting positions of Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer. The incident occurred during the third T20I between India and South Africa in Bangalore. South Africa overpowered India in all the three departments of the game to win the game comfortably and level the series 1-1.

Kohli revealed that while batting first, Iyer was set to come out and bat at No.4. But it was Pant who again walked out in the middle, in a position where he has largely failed to impress. Both players could not contribute much to the cause, as India ended with a low score of 134-9 in their 20 overs.

Kohli sees the funny side

Kohli revealed the incident between the two players and new batting coach Vikram Rathour in his post-match press conference:

“The batting coach had a word with both of them and there was a misunderstanding about who had to go 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. There was a miscommunication there. I understood it afterwards.”

Many people have advocated promoting Iyer up the order ahead of Pant. There is a belief that Iyer possesses better temperament. He can judge the situation of the match and bat accordingly. Pant, on the other hand, has seen his shot selection and execution being questioned at many stages in his short career.

Kohli revealed that the plan was to send in Iyer first if the wicket fell before 10 overs. Pant would walk in to bat ahead if the wicket fell after the 10th over due to his hitting prowess. Dhawan was dismissed in the 7th over of the innings, but it was Pant who walked out to bat.

Kohli added:

“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.”

With the three-match series being tied at 1-1, the action will now resume in the longest format of the game. The two teams will contest in a three-match Test series, beginning on October 2nd.