In case, Hardik can't make it, selectors might either look at hitting prowess of Suryakumar Yadav since the ODIs in the Kiwiland will be an extension of T20s in World Cup year.
Pant made 28 off 33 balls during India's 255 all out after being sent in to bat by Australia.
The earlier highest successful run chase for India in a T20I was the 207 against Sri Lanka in Mohali in 2009
Rahul completed the feat in the ongoing first T20I against West Indies. He became the seventh Indian to achieve this feat
Rahul, however, said that he was batting well and looked comfortable in the two innings
At 25 for 3, it could have been worse but a determined Rahul put his head down and left a lot of deliveries outside off-stump as Rahane also defended dourly at the other end
India is only 87 runs behind England with six wickets in hand