Skipper Rahul to open, Venkatesh 6th bowling option

Paarl (South Africa), Jan 18: India skipper KL Rahul on Tuesday hinted that all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer is likely to be groomed as the additional pace bowling option that the team has lacked ever since Hardik Pandya’s back injury while declaring that he will open alongside veteran Shikhar Dhawan in the first ODI against South Africa here. “In the past 12-15 months, I have batted in various positions because that is what the team needed of me then and now with Rohit (Sharma) not being there, I will bat at the top of the order,” the skipper informed ahead of the opening game. “We are looking to develop Venkatesh as a sixth bowling option,” the skipper went on to add. (PTI)