India's batting coach Vikram Rathour feels Shreyas Iyer has nailed the No.4 spot in the limited-overs outfit and the middle-order is no longer a concern for the side.
India struggled with its soft underbelly at the last year's World Cup. But ever since, Iyer, who was dropped after six opportunities in the 50-over version in early 2018, has done exceedingly well on comeback.
Rathour thinks that, as well as the performances shown by Manish Pandey in his rare chances in T20Is and the way KL Rahul has suddenly taken to the No.5 spot in ODIs, augurs really well.
"As far as I am concerned, I think it (middle-order) is (no longer an issue). I think Shreyas has done enough to settle the (No.4) debate. In T20 cricket, again Manish Pandey, wherever he gets an opportunity, he has done well. And KL is batting in the middle order in the one-dayer. So, yes, I think we have enough potential to stop looking outside. I think we have whatever we need in the squad now," Rathour told Sportskeeda.
Rathour also talked about Rishabh Pant, the young, talented wicketkeeper batsman, who in recent times hasn't had great certainty as far as his next opportunity is concerned. And also whether he is feeling the weight of expectations, being someone considered MS Dhoni's direct replacement.
"He (Rishabh Pant) hasn't had a great last year and hasn't done too well in international cricket. He still has the backing of the team management (though) and we believe he is a special player. He can still bring a lot to the Indian cricket team once he starts scoring," said Rathour.
"MS Dhoni is still around, we don't know what is happening with him, but replacing someone like him is not and was never going to be easy, with the kind of stature he had in international cricket. Pant has had a few failures so he has been under pressure to perform, but something like this makes you a stronger and better player."
"He's working really hard on the physical aspect, he is training hard, he is practising hard, and I have absolutely no doubt that if we keep backing him, eventually he will be a match-winner for Team India," he added.
The former India batsman also heaped effusive praise on current skipper and modern-day batting master, Virat Kohli, saying his commitment to the game and ability to quickly adjust himself as per the demands of different formats is excellent.
"For me, the best thing about Virat Kohli is his commitment to the game," said Rathour. "He wants to be the best player in the world and he works hard for that. He puts in the hard yards, and he is the hardest working cricketer that I have seen. Other than that I believe his adaptability is his biggest strength."
"He is not a one-dimensional player, he can change his game as and when required. He plays every format differently and that has been one of his greatest strengths."
"One of the best examples in which I saw was in the 2016 IPL where he scored four hundreds and hit 40 odd sixes. He was going through a great patch of form and after that we had a tour to the West Indies. After playing like that for two months in the IPL, he goes to the West Indies and in the first match he scores a double hundred without hitting a single ball in the air."
"So that kind of change to bring into your batting because you are playing a different format, not many cricketers can do that. With Virat Kohli, I think he can play the way he wants to play. He can play according to different situations and that I think is his biggest strength," he concluded.
(Inputs from Sportskeeda)
