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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should have opened: Ex-India star slams team management despite win in 2nd T20I vs NZ

hellohimachalse@gmail.com 25 Oct 2026 43 min ago

New Delhi: Former India spinner Murali Kartik slammed the Indian team management for not allowing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to open the batting in the against New Zealand in Christchurch on Saturday. Sooryavanshi returned to India’s playing XI but at number three in the game.

The teenage sensation failed to make an impact and was dismissed cheaply after scoring only 4 runs off 8 balls. However, India rode heroics from Tilak Varma and Naman Dhir to pull off a thrilling 181-run chase and win by 4 wickets. Kartik questioned the Indian team management’s decision to send Sooryavanshi to bat at no.3.

The former India spinner said Sooryavanshi’s strengths are best suited for the opening role, and that is also his preferred batting slot. He argued an experienced player should have been asked to bat at no.3 in place of Sooryavanshi while allowing the 15-year-old to open the batting.

“Where is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi good? He is good as an opener. He has not played in the middle. He is a young kid. He has batted only one way. That’s why you keep experienced players, so that they can play different roles,” Kartik said on the broadcast after the match.

“It’s a different thing that you won the match, but if you are playing Suryavanshi, he should have opened today,” added the former India spinner.

Sanju Samson should have batted at no.3: Kartik

Kartik argued that India’s experienced players should have taken the onus and adjusted to a different position to accommodate Sooryavanshi at the top. He pointed out that Samson, who opened with Abhishek Sharma in the game, has batted at different positions in the past and could have taken the no.3 role.

“Sanju Samson is your banker. He can play at a different position. People might ask why only him. If you are an experienced player, you will have to play such roles, especially when you have picked Vaibhav Sooryavanshi,” said Kartik.

Sooryavanshi, who was on the bench in the series opener against the Kiwis, was selected in the playing XI after Ishan Kishan picked up an injury. He was expected to open the batting with Abhishek in the 2nd T20I, but to the surprise of many, the 15-year-old was used at no.3 as India retained their opening pair. The teenage sensation failed to make much of an impact as he could only score 4 runs off 8 balls.

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