‘It’s not good news’: Former India star questions India’s treatment of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (AP Photo) Former India batsman Mohammad Kaif has questioned India’s decision to omit Vaibhav Sooryavanshi from the fourth T20I against New Zealand. He believes the young batsman should have been given another opportunity, especially after India had already clinched the series.Sooryavanshi played the second and third T20Is after Ishan Kishan was ruled out due to injury. However, when Kishan returned to the team, the youngster had to make way for him in the fourth match, which India lost.Kaif feels that if Sooryavanshi runs consistently, it would help build his confidence. He also pointed out that India had already taken an unassailable 3-0 lead before the fourth match.

“This is not good news for Sooryavanshi”

Kaif believes dropping the youngster after giving him just two chances is not the right approach.“That’s not good news for the player (not getting consistent runs). He’s a potential superstar. And you’ve seen what he can do. He scored 100 runs in six matches in the third T20I along with Abhishek Sharma. It’s not good news for any player, even if he’s a veteran, for his confidence building,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel.He felt that the fourth T20I was the right opportunity to give Sooryavanshi another game as India had already won the series.“There is an opportunity to play him in this game. You have already won the series. You have to see the situation you are in during the series. On one hand, you have left Bhuvneshwar out and said you will bring in new players. Vaibhav is also new, so why not treat him the same way? You are fixing Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav. By the same logic of the game. The platform should be set well.”

Will Sooryavanshi get another chance in the fifth T20I?

India will look to make a few changes when they take on New Zealand in the fifth and final T20I at Seddon Park on Sunday.India lead the series 3-1 but suffered a heavy 87-run defeat in the fourth match in Auckland. The result could force the team’s management to make changes to their playing eleven.Sooryavanshi is among the players who could return to the side. Sanju Samson could make way for the youngster after struggling for runs in the series.Samson scored 67 in the opening T20I in Christchurch but managed just 14, 18 and four in his next three innings.The final match could give Sooryavanshi another opportunity to impress India as they look to end the series with a win.

Kaif questions Kishan’s return to the playing XI

Kaif also felt that India could have rested Ishan Kishan instead of bringing him straight back into the playing XI.Kishan returned after recovering from injury to take over the wicket duties. According to Kaif, if the batter wasn’t quite fit, there was no need to rush him back, especially when the series was already decided.“Ishan came back from injury and kept wickets. My gut feeling is that he didn’t want to run much. Maybe that’s why he got the gloves. If that was the case, then Kishan shouldn’t have played. It wasn’t a do-or-diet game,” he added.“If he had a niggle, he could have rested. India was already 3-0 up.”