<p>New York: India will continue with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant at No. 3 in the T20 World Cup following his gritty performance against Ireland, said batting coach Vikram Rathour, who also expressed his delight at having a fully-fit Hardik Pandya back in the fold.</p>.<p>Both Pant and Pandya, who returned to top-flight cricket in the IPL, are making a comeback to international cricket after a long gap.</p>.<p>The duo delivered the goods in India's eight-wicket thrashing of Ireland in their opening game here on Wednesday.</p>.<p>On a challenging pitch with uneven bounce, run-scoring was difficult but Pant unleashed a few stunning shots, including a reverse-scoop over the Irish wicket-keeper's head for a match-winning six in his unbeaten 36.</p>.ICC T20 World Cup | Rohit unsure about what to expect from Nassau track; Bumrah has no complaints.<p>The Ireland match was Pant's first game for India since December 2022 when he was involved in a horrific car accident.</p>.<p>''Yes, he has been batting really well. The two games (warm-up and Ireland) he has played, he has looked really, really good,'' Rathour told the media after the match here at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium.</p>.<p>''Yes, at the moment he is our No. 3 and it helps that he is a left-hander,'' Rathour added, in a way cementing the combination of skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli at the top.</p>.<p>Both Pant and Pandya made their way back into the India squad for the T20 World Cup after proving their fitness and form in the IPL.</p>.<p>Even though he did not garner big numbers as an all-rounder in a turbulent season as captain for Mumbai Indians, India chief selector Ajit Agarkar had said that there is no one in the country who could match Pandya's skills as an all-rounder.</p>.T20 World Cup | All-round Stoinis stars in Australia's comprehensive 39-run win against Oman.<p>On Wednesday, Pandya was quick and precise with his line and length to produce 4-0-27-3 in his first match since October 2023 -- also in a World Cup.</p>.<p>Pandya had hobbled off the pitch in Pune playing against Bangladesh after twisting his ankle, which left India without an all-rounder and also disrupting the balance of their playing XI, with incoming Suryakumar Yadav failing to make an impact in the 50-overs quadrennial showpiece.</p>.<p>''Hardik looked really good. Hardik has been — I mean, even in the practice game and even in the practice — bowling really well,'' Rathour said.</p>.<p>''He looks fit enough to go through four overs and he's been bowling with some pace and some accuracy, so yeah, it's great,'' he added. </p>
<p>New York: India will continue with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant at No. 3 in the T20 World Cup following his gritty performance against Ireland, said batting coach Vikram Rathour, who also expressed his delight at having a fully-fit Hardik Pandya back in the fold.</p>.<p>Both Pant and Pandya, who returned to top-flight cricket in the IPL, are making a comeback to international cricket after a long gap.</p>.<p>The duo delivered the goods in India's eight-wicket thrashing of Ireland in their opening game here on Wednesday.</p>.<p>On a challenging pitch with uneven bounce, run-scoring was difficult but Pant unleashed a few stunning shots, including a reverse-scoop over the Irish wicket-keeper's head for a match-winning six in his unbeaten 36.</p>.ICC T20 World Cup | Rohit unsure about what to expect from Nassau track; Bumrah has no complaints.<p>The Ireland match was Pant's first game for India since December 2022 when he was involved in a horrific car accident.</p>.<p>''Yes, he has been batting really well. The two games (warm-up and Ireland) he has played, he has looked really, really good,'' Rathour told the media after the match here at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium.</p>.<p>''Yes, at the moment he is our No. 3 and it helps that he is a left-hander,'' Rathour added, in a way cementing the combination of skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli at the top.</p>.<p>Both Pant and Pandya made their way back into the India squad for the T20 World Cup after proving their fitness and form in the IPL.</p>.<p>Even though he did not garner big numbers as an all-rounder in a turbulent season as captain for Mumbai Indians, India chief selector Ajit Agarkar had said that there is no one in the country who could match Pandya's skills as an all-rounder.</p>.T20 World Cup | All-round Stoinis stars in Australia's comprehensive 39-run win against Oman.<p>On Wednesday, Pandya was quick and precise with his line and length to produce 4-0-27-3 in his first match since October 2023 -- also in a World Cup.</p>.<p>Pandya had hobbled off the pitch in Pune playing against Bangladesh after twisting his ankle, which left India without an all-rounder and also disrupting the balance of their playing XI, with incoming Suryakumar Yadav failing to make an impact in the 50-overs quadrennial showpiece.</p>.<p>''Hardik looked really good. Hardik has been — I mean, even in the practice game and even in the practice — bowling really well,'' Rathour said.</p>.<p>''He looks fit enough to go through four overs and he's been bowling with some pace and some accuracy, so yeah, it's great,'' he added. </p>