KL Rahul’s tenure as stand-in captain of the Indian ODI team got off to a forgettable start the Men in Blue were beaten by South Africa by 31 runs in the first game of the three-match series at Paarl.
Chasing a target of 295, India looked set for a comfortable victory as opening batter Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli scored half-centuries as part of a 92-run partnership for the second wicket.
However, both players departed in quick succession and the Indian middle-order failed to build on the foundation as the hosts registered a victory.
Talking on Star Sports, Bangar said, “The team management will have to continue to persist with them. Shreyas Iyer has been in and out. There was a phase in his career where he was getting regular chances… and then we already saw the opportunities that Pant got and the kind of impact he’s had in Test match cricket.
“He is yet to come good and put in such performances in One-day Internationals, which was expected to be the case when he first came to the scene.”
Bangar insisted that India must stick with Iyer and Pant for the next few games but called the defeat in the first ODI at Paarl as a wasted opportunity for both players.
“They are going to improve with time but these were like readymade opportunities for them to prove their credentials. You don’t often get to bat for 25-27 overs as a middle-order player. When you are chasing at around 6 runs per over, you have the time to settle in and then show off your scoring ability as well. I would say that India should persist with the same personnel but it was a lost opportunity for them,” said the ex-Indian coach.
