India vs West Indies 3rd T20I: Rahul Dravid impressed with Venkatesh Iyer's progress as a finisher

Team India Head coach Rahul Dravid has said that India team management gave Venkatesh Iyer to play the finisher’s role in the T20I format and they are impressed with his progress so far. Venkatesh Iyer, who made his debut against New Zealand after the T20 World Cup last year, has been batting at No. 6 and did well in India’s 3-0 series sweep of the West Indies, scoring 92 runs in 3 matches, including two match-winning knocks – 18-ball 33 in the 2nd T20I, 19-ball 35 not out in the 3rd T20I as well.

And, Dravid stated that Iyer plays the role of an opener for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League but he is batting in the middle-order and playing the role of a finisher for Team India. And, he has been looking to replace Hardik Pandya who has been on the sidelines due to a recurring back injury.

“I know he plays a different role (opener) for his IPL franchise but we’re very clear with what is the kind of role that we see him filling in our situation… Obviously, our top three isn’t really a spot, because these guys have established and have been performing very well in the top three,” Rahul Dravid said after India’s 3-0 win over the West Indies. “So we challenged him, we gave him the role to be able to bat in that position. Every time he’s improved, he’s gotten better. That’s really pleasing.”

Venkatesh Iyer has also chipped in as the 6th bowler, giving India an option to go to the T20 World Cup. In the final T20I when Deepak Chahar walked off following a hamstring injury in the third over, Venkatesh filled in and took 2/23 in his 2.1 overs as well. So far, Iyer has picked up 3 wickets, bowling close to 7 overs for India in T20Is as well.

READ MORE: “Not hurt at all” – Rahul Dravid comments on Wriddhiman Saha saga

“The role of a sixth bowler is something that you always be called upon to bowl” – Rahul Dravid

“The role of a sixth bowler is something that you always be called upon to bowl. But in a situation like today where we, unfortunately, lost Deepak, you have to bowl a few critical overs,” Rahul Dravid said. “That is the role of a sixth bowler. If you are having a good game and the captain doesn’t need you then he doesn’t need you. If he needs you, he probably will need you at a critical time. And I think he’s done a really good job for us, really good series he has had.”

Meanwhile, the coach has also backed Ishan Kishan, who had a poor series against the West Indies. He opened the innings in KL Rahul’s absence and managed 71 runs across the 3 T20Is but he wasn’t comfortable at all in the middle.

READ MORE: Hardik Pandya combined with bat and ball sounds better, says all-rounder

Rahul Dravid said: “Ishan has been picked on his potential, his performance. Yes, you cannot specify this many games. Sometimes it’s combination, sometimes it’s injuries. Never always give a player the same number of games, there cannot be a written number in stone whether it’s seven or six matches.”

“Whether it’s Ruturaj Gaikwad or Avesh Khan today. We are not judging them on one game. They’re here because they perform and deserve to be here. We like to give the players confidence in the group in and around the squad and that they are not going to be judged on one game. It’s always a tricky balance. But in the larger group, I’m not concerned about one-off series. In this format, it’s going to happen,” Rahul Dravid concluded.