Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s failure to make a T20I comeback infuriated the ex-Indian spinner

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi failed to make an impact on his return to the Indian T20I team, but former India spinner Murali Kartik believes the teenager was not used in the right role. Kartik questioned the team management’s decision to send Sooryavanshi at No.3 instead of allowing him to open the second T20I, arguing that the youngster should have played in the position where he is most effective.

Sooryavanshi appeared in the second match of the series after the absence of the injured Ishan Kishan created an opportunity for him. However, the 15-year-old could not capitalize on his chances, scoring just four runs from eight balls before being dismissed in the seventh over of India’s 181-run chase. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi falls in 2nd T20I. (AP photo)

His dismissal was one of three wickets India lost in the first 10 overs, putting the team under pressure in the chase. India eventually got over the line thanks to late flourishes from Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir and Nitish Kumar Reddy. Tilak remained unbeaten on 51 off 26 balls while Dhir contributed 31 off 17 and Reddy finished unbeaten on 26 off 13 as India chased down the target with one ball to spare.

Despite the win, Kartik questioned the decision to bat Sooryavanshi at No.3, insisting that the youngster’s strengths are best suited to the opening position.

“Where is Vaibhav Suryavanshi good? He is good as an opener. He didn’t play in the middle. He is a young guy. He only batted one way. That’s why you keep experienced players to play different roles,” Kartik said in the post-match telecast.

“It’s another thing that you won the match, but if you play Suryavanshi, he should have opened today,” he added.

OLDER PLAYERS SHOULD ADAPT: KARTIK

Kartik argued that India’s veteran players should be ready to adjust their batting positions to suit a young talent like Sooryavanshi. He pointed to Sanju Samson as a player capable of taking on multiple roles, suggesting the team could use the veteran batsman to make way for the teenager at the top of the order.

According to Kartík, Samson is an established option that can adapt to the team’s requirements. The former spinner felt that if India decided to include Sooryavanshi in the playing XI, it should have allowed him to bat in his natural position rather than asking him to take on a role he was less used to.

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

He also hinted that India’s chances would have been different had Sooryavanshi not been selected by the team for the match. In this scenario, Kartik felt that Shivam Dube could have been considered for the middle order role.

“It would have been different if Suryavanshi didn’t play today. Then Shivam Dube could play if you had to get him to bat in the middle order,” he added.

SOORYAVANSHI WILL NOT CAPITALIZE

Sooryavanshi’s brief stint at the crease meant he could not make an impact on India’s chase, though the team eventually secured victory thanks to contributions from the middle and lower order. Tilak led the recovery with an unbeaten half-century while Dhir and Reddy provided the late boost needed to see India through.

It was a missed opportunity for Sooryavanshi, who returned to the line-up for the first time since the Asian Games final, to make another impression on Gautam Gambhir.

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