India vs New Zealand: Rishabh Pant didn’t understand his role, particularly in this series – Daniel Vettori

Former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori feels Rishabh Pant wasn’t sure about his role in the Indian T20I batting lineup and didn’t get his tempo right in the recent home series which has been the reason behind his inconsistency.

Pant wasn’t able to set the series on fire with the bat, scored 33 runs (4, 12*, 17*) in the three matches against New Zealand at No. 4 and 5.

Vettori pointed out that Pant’s lack of clarity about his role in the team was the reason behind his failures in the series which India swept 3-0 after beating New Zealand by 73 runs in the final T20I on Sunday.

“He hasn’t got his tempo right in T20 cricket. He hasn’t quite understood his role, particularly in this series. Sometimes he is overly cautious, then he is reckless.

“It doesn’t feel like there is a flow to his game. When you see great T20 batters batting well, it is all about flow and momentum and you just feel a rhythm to it. He hasn’t quite got that yet,” said Vettori.

The former left-arm spinner went on to add that Pant will have to sort out his issues with the bat before the Indian team management looks at other options in either KL Rahul or Ishan Kishan, who can open the batting and also keep wickets in T20Is.

“I will be surprised if they (team management) don’t talk long and hard about what they expect from him. But, the onus is on Pant to find that right tempo. The reality is, if he doesn’t, they can look elsewhere. They have Ishan Kishan and KL can keep wickets as well in T20.

“They will give Pant the opportunity to find his rhythm, knowing that they can change pretty quick as well,” concluded Vettori.