India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has backed the team’s recent T20 performances under captain Shreyas Iyer, insisting that the current phase is one of transition and that occasional setbacks are part of the process. His comments came ahead of the third T20I against England, where India are continuing to blood young talent, including teenage debutant Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

India has come under the scanner after three straight defeats, a sharp contrast to the dominant run that brought them major ICC and continental trophies in recent months. But Kotak believes the bigger picture matters more than one difficult stretch, especially when the team is trying to balance results with long-term planning.

“See, our attempt is to improve in all three departments: batting, bowling, and fielding,” Sitanshu Kotak said, making it clear that the management’s focus remains on overall progress rather than short-term panic.

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He added that transitions naturally bring instability, particularly when key personnel are missing and several young players are being introduced at the same time. With Hardik Pandya unavailable and the captaincy having changed hands, Kotak said the team is still adjusting to a new structure.

“It is the nature of the game. Sometimes, when there is a transition – the captain has changed, Hardik is not there, and you are trying to introduce three to four young players – even then, it should not happen, but such things can happen. The Indian team’s efforts remain the same,” he explained.

Kotak also stressed that India’s preparations are being shaped with the next T20 World Cup cycle in mind. According to him, the team must keep improving in all departments if it wants to stay ahead of the curve.

“Everyone has their limitations, but we always try to improve in batting, bowling, and fielding. If we are looking at winning the next World Cup, we will have to get better. We have to do better than what we have done in the last World Cup,” he said.

The batting coach also underlined the importance of all-rounders in modern T20 cricket, especially players who can offer pace-bowling depth. He pointed to Nitish Kumar Reddy and Suryansh Shedge as part of the wider pool being prepared for future challenges.

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“In T20, pace-bowling all-rounders play a very important role if you count one as the sixth bowler,” Sitanshu Kotak noted. “With all these young players, all 15 might not get to play, but at least if they are with the team, they will get used to the environment.” India will now look to bounce back in the third T20I against England in Nottingham on July 7, after the series opener was washed out and the second match ended in a four-wicket loss.