Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar has picked one batter who can become Virat Kohli’s backup at the number three position in T20Is. Notably, Kohli has taken a rest for the ongoing three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka. He also skipped the last T20I against West Indies.
In Kohli’s absence, middle-order specialist Shreyas Iyer came to bat at No. 3 position in the first T20I against Sri Lanka, where he scored a quickfire 57 off 28 balls to help India post a massive total of 199/2 in their allotted 20 overs.
Bangar has picked Shreyas as his choice of batsman who can be a backup of Kohli for the number three position. The cricketer-turned-commentator reckoned that if Kohli gets injured in/ahead of any match, Iyer can be an ideal candidate to bat at No.3.
“The bench is getting strong. The position at which Shreyas is being sent to bat, he is being continuously sent at No. 3. So God forbid if Virat Kohli gets injured in some match, I feel he can become a very good option at No. 3, and that is probably where the team management’s sights are set on Shreyas Iyer,” said Bangar in a conversation on Star Sports.
So far, Shreyas has represented India in 34 T20I matches in which he has scored 662 runs at an average of 30.09 and a strike rate of 137.06. Along with Bangar, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan, who was also part of the conversation, lavished praises on Shreyas, stating that the Mumbaikar plays with full ‘swag’.
“This guy has the swag. When this boy is in form, it is enjoyable to watch. The big shots he plays, he doesn’t stay at one spot, but despite that, the balance he generates, it is his own ability. I like the non-looker six he hits the most. The two sixes he hit off the slower ones – one-off Karunaratne and later off Chameera. He answered the critics with his bat, you don’t need to answer with your tongue,” explained Pathan.
