India beat the Kiwis by 7 wickets in the second T20I at Ranchi to win three-match series. The final T20I will be played in Kolkata on Sunday. Meanwhile, former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan has said that India are already thinking about next T20 World Cup.

Talking to Cricbuzz after the game, Zaheer Khan said that the promotion of Venkatesh Iyer to number three at Ranchi is a sign that the team is already thinking about the next World Cup in Australia in 11 months time.

Definitely A Proactive Move: Zaheer Khan On Venkatesh Iyer’s Promotion

“The move to promote Venkatesh Iyer to No.3 when the opportunity arose proves that India are already thinking about the next T20 World Cup. Had they not done something like that, then you could have said that they missed an opportunity. It was definitely a proactive move by the management keeping the future in mind” said Zaheer.

Iyer batted in both the games that he has played so far. He was cheaply dismissed for five on his T20I debut. In the second game, he batted with more calmness and responsibility. He scored 12 from 11 balls and stayed unbeaten to take his side to victory.

Though he has been assigned the role of an all-rounder in the line-up, he has not been asked to bowl as yet in the first two games. Cricket experts were off the view that he should have bowled in the first two games but that has not been the case so far.

Meanwhile. former Indian spinner Pragyan Ojha said that the Indian side needs to sort out their middle-order concerns ahead of the next World Cup. Suryakumar Yadav has been batting at number three majorly since his T20I debut. Rishabh Pant has also been promoted to number four and five several times.

We Need To Sort Our Middle-Order Woes: Pragyan Ojha

“We need to sort out our middle order. That is what is hurting us in ICC tournaments. If we get that in place, rest all seems fine. Our top-order batting and bowling are excellent. But this is one box we still need to tick.”India’s middle-order failed to deliver after Rohit and Rahul perished cheaply in the first two games of the T20 World Cup 2021 against Pakistan and New Zealand respectively. The below-par efforts ended up costing India a place in the semis”. 

Ojha concluded by saying that Aves Khan should get a look in in the third T20I if Mohammed Siraj is not fir. Harshal Patel replaced Siraj in the lineup and took two wickets on his T20I debut.

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