Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has given credit to the team’s think tank for promoting Rishabh Pant at number three in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Pant scored a fine fifty in the warm-up match against Bangladesh and has grabbed his opportunity while batting at one down.

Pant scored a crucial knock of 36 runs off 26 balls in the opening match against Ireland at New York and then continued his rich form, scoring a vital knock of 42 runs off just 31 balls against arch-rivals Pakistan to help his team post 119 runs on the board.

Furthermore, Pant scored 18 runs against the USA but was dismissed on a ball that kept slightly low. Pant has scored 96 runs in three matches of the T20 World Cup at an average of 48 and a strike rate of 124.67 and he is India’s leaing run-getter in the tournament.

Harbhajan said earlier everyone was expecting Sanju Samson to play ahead of Pant in the final XI.

Harbhajan Singh said on Star Sports, “Rishabh Pant’s role was completely changed when he was asked to bat at No. 3. We all were saying Sanju Samson would play (as wicketkeeper) before this World Cup because he had scored a lot of runs. But the Pant experiment working at No. 3 is a big positive. The left-right combination works well when Rishabh Pant plays at No. 3.”

On the other hand, the Turbanator reckons Hardik Pandya picking up wickets is also a big boost for the team. Pandya has picked seven wickets in three matches of the T20I showpiece.

“Hardik Pandya picking up wickets is the biggest positive. He had come into this tournament as your fourth bowler, but his wickets tally is much better than what one would have expected from him.”

India will begin their Super 8 campaign against Afghanistan at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados on Thursday.