Ashwin Says No. 3 Role Was Not Right for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi finally earned a place in India’s playing XI in the second T20I against New Zealand in Christchurch, but the chance came in an unfamiliar role. The teenager was slotted in at No. 3 to replace the injured Ishan Kishan, and the move did not work out.

A Role Out of Sync

Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma stayed on as openers, with the team management again signalling that India’s opening pairing is settled. Sooryavanshi walked in during the sixth over, a very different situation from the aggressive starts he is known for. He struggled to find his rhythm and was dismissed for four runs off eight balls.

Ashwin’s Verdict

Speaking to the broadcaster after the match, former India spinner R Ashwin named Sooryavanshi among the game’s misses. He felt the youngster looked uncomfortable and out of place, yet kept attacking throughout his short stay. According to Ashwin, the position was simply “not his cup of tea.” He added that calling a young cricketer a miss is perhaps premature, but he had only two categories to choose from, hit or miss.

Former India cricketer Murali Kartik has also questioned the decision, asking where Sooryavanshi is at his best and putting the focus on Gautam Gambhir and the team management. The debate has widened into a larger question about what role the 14-year-old…

Correction: the line above went off track, so here is the clean closing paragraphs instead:

Former India cricketer Murali Kartik has also questioned the decision, asking where Sooryavanshi is at his best and directing the query at coach Gautam Gambhir and the team management. The debate has widened into a larger question about the batter’s long-term role in India’s T20 setup.

One short innings should not define a young player’s potential. Still, the episode raises a fair point for the think tank: emerging talents tend to perform best when slotted into roles that suit their natural game.