The Indian wicket-keeper batter, Rishabh Pant infirmed that they are trying out all the possible options in order to build a strong team ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup. Pant, who was appointed vice-captain in the absence of KL Rahul for the ongoing T20 series against the West Indies, scored a fiery half-century in India’s thrilling win in the second T20I over West Indies in Kolkata on Friday night.

During a media interaction after the match, Rishabh Pant said, “There’s still time for the World Cup, so the plan is to try out as many options as possible. We are trying to find out which positions suit whom and how they can benefit the team. So we’re trying out several options, whatever seems right for the team eventually will be final.”

In the absence of the rested pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, seamer Harshal Patel has been emerging as a death-over specialist as he kept his nerves when West Indies big-hitter Rovman Powell threatened to take the game away with back-to-back sixes in the final over. Rishabh Pant said the plan was to keep the ball outside off stump.

WATCH – Yuzvendra Chahal Checked The Bat of Rovman Powell After The Second T20

With the injury-prone Hardik Pandya not available, India is also looking for another quality seam-bowling all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer, who can finish the games as well. Venkatesh, who caught the selectors’ eye after impressing as an explosive opener for Kolkata Knight Riders in the UAE leg of the IPL 2021, played an 18-ball 33-run cameo. 

Describing the same, Rishabh Pant said, “Yes, in the IPL he opened for KKR, but we can’t be thinking too much about that. In the Indian team, we are just trying to find different positions for different people. He used to play down the order (for Madhya Pradesh). When you come down the order, you know the situation. He (Venkatesh) is someone who reads the situation really well. He is a mature cricketer.”

India now has another spin option in 21-year-old Ravi Bishnoi, a googly specialist who returned with match-winning figures of 2/17 on debut in the first T20I. In the second T20I, he finished the game with the spell of 1/30, and Rishabh Pant was seen constantly egging on the youngster from behind the stumps.

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Elaborating the same, Rishabh Pant said, “For a newcomer in the team, it’s all about giving him confidence. Yes we can give our plans, but for a bowler, it’s very important to know what he feels, especially for a youngster who has just come into the team.”