Right before of the third ODI between the Men in Blue and Kiwis on Wednesday, VVS Laxman said that coaching India in the absence of regular coach Rahul Dravid is nothing but a stop-gap arrangement.
India, who are trailing the three match series 0-1, were invited to bat first in the third ODI in Christchurch after New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss.
Laxman joined Team India for its tour of New Zealand after Dravid was given a break following the end of India's T20 World Cup campaign, where the side suffered a 10-wicket defeat at the hands of eventual champions England.
"It (coaching role) is fully satisfying, obviously it is only a stop-gap arrangement but it is been fun working with the young guys," Laxman told the broadcasters ahead of the third ODI against New Zealand.
Laxman also said that India have a strong pool of talent and the management is trying to give opportunities to players and communicate with those who are not getting selected.
"It is about the combination you want to play for each game. India is blessed to have a strong depth of talent and bench strength. It is about giving them opportunities and also informing them whenever they are not picked."
The NCA chief further backed wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant at number four and pointed out his crucial knock against England at Old Trafford.
"He (Pant) has been doing well at no.4, not too long ago he scored an important century at Old Trafford and it is important to back him.
"T20 cricket has given batters more confidence about clearing the grounds no matter how big the outfields are, they also work a lot with the range-hitting," Laxman further said.
With New Zealand leading the series 1-0, it will be a task cut out of Dhawan's men to at-least level the series by grabbing a hold on the final match of the New Zealand assignment. The second ODI was washed out in Hamilton on Sunday following two rain interruptions.
India's playing XI: Shikhar Dhawan(c), Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(w), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Deepak Chahar, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.
New Zealand's playing XI: Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson(c), Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham(w), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson.
