India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has defended the team after three defeats in T20Is. The Men in Blue lost two games in a row against Ireland, and they also went down against England in the second T20Is.

“We want to improve in all the departments of the game. We want to get ready for the next T20 World Cup in two years. There is a need to reach the next level. We didn’t lose a series in the last two years and also won the T20 World Cup and the Asia Cup. After losing three matches, people are questioning our performances,” Kotak said.

“There is a transition going on. The captain has been changed, and there is no Hardik Pandya in the team. A few new players have been added to the squad. Such things happen, but the efforts always remain the same.

“There are limitations, but we are trying to improve in batting, bowling, and fielding. If we want to win the next World Cup, we will have to get better. We have to be better than what we were in the last World Cup,” he added.

Kotak said a fast-bowling all-rounder is a key to success, and the likes of Nitish Kumar Reddy and even Suryansh Shedge are getting chances.

“The fast bowling all-rounder plays a key role if you take him as a sixth bowling option.  Suryansh did well in the IPL. You can’t play all 15 players, but they get used to the environment.

“The way Hardik performs, and the experience and the quality he has are not easy to find. Nitish is getting the experience, and  Suryansh has just joined the team. The BCCI, the selectors, and the team management always try to prepare for the event,” he explained.

He also opined on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who made his international debut in the IND vs ENG 2nd T20I in Manchester. He scored 14 runs off 10 balls, laced with 2 sixes. Sitanshu Kotak revealed that Vaibhav was set to make his debut from the time he was named in the squad for the tour of the UK.

“He was set to make his debut from the time he made it to the team. There is no such thing as him only getting ready from the second game of the series against England. We want to back his game and instincts. I don’t think there were any instructions given to him from our side,” he concluded.