3 reasons why India must pick Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the playing XI for 5th NZ vs IND 2026 T20I

Team India did not pick Vaibhav Suryavanshi for the fourth T20I against New Zealand at the Eden Park in Auckland on Friday, October 30. With Ishan Kishan having recovered from low grade right adductor strain he sustained during the first T20I of the series, he was picked in the Indian playing XI ahead of Suryavanshi.

With Kishan unavailable, Suryavanshi batted at No. 3 in the second T20I against New Zealand in Christchurch. The southpaw looked out of sorts and was dismissed for four off eight balls. In the third T20I in Wellington, he opened the batting with Abhishek Sharma and scored a quick-fire 45 off 19 balls.

The fifth and final T20I of the India-New Zealand series will be played at the Seddon Park in Hamilton on Sunday, November 1. In this feature, we look at three reasons why Suryavanshi should open the batting with Abhishek in the fifth T20I in Hamilton on Sunday.

#1 Important to back Vaibhav Suryavanshi and give him confidence

Suryavanshi played an impressive knock against New Zealand in Wellington in the third T20I. Although he fell short of a half-century, the 15-year-old looked in good touch out in the middle, hitting four fours and four sixes. He was looking good for a lot more when he perished to Matthew Fisher.

Kishan‘s return to the playing XI in place of Suryavanshi in Auckland was not surprising. He was part of the frontline XI and Suryavanshi came in as his injury replacement. However, the question that needs to be asked here is – could India have retained Suryavanshi in the playing XI in Auckland?

India had already clinched the series 3-0, so they could have easily rested one of the senior top order batters to accommodate Suryavanshi. The opening batter is only 15 years old. As such, being in and out of the playing XI could affect his confidence. India would do well to give a chance to Suryavanshi in Hamilton on Sunday, which would be another dead rubber.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra questioned the team management’s thought process over Suryavanshi and said:

“The decision to drop Vaibhav Suryavanshi leads to a bigger question. Will you play Vaibhav Suryavanshi only when someone is injured? Or when someone is unavailable? If that is the case, you can send him home. You can tell him to go and play first-class cricket. Of course, he can learn by staying in the Indian dressing room. But, if it’s happening for an extended period, it’s better he gets bat on ball.”

It would be intriguing to see what kind of strategy India employ with regard to the development of Suryavanshi.

#2 He can go all-out in a low-pressure dead rubber

When Suryavanshi batted in the third T20I against New Zealand in Wellington, India had still not clinched the series. The Men in Blue were chasing a challenging target of 199 in this contest on a surface where there was some assistance for the fast bowlers.

Having failed in the previous match in Christchurch, Suryavanshi would have been under some pressure while heading out to bat in Wellington. However, the 15-year-old showed good resolve and played a fine hand in India’s series clinching win. If picked for Sunday’s clash, the left-hander can go into bat without any pressure as India have the series in the bag. He can go on an all-out attack.

#3 Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Suryavanshi can get under the skin of New Zealand bowlers

India have tried two different opening combinations in this series and it’s the Abhishek-Suryavanshi pair that has looked more lethal even though the sample size is just one innings. In Wellington, the duo added 133 in just 43 balls, with Suryavanshi matching Abhishek stroke for stroke.

The Abhishek-Sanju Samson pair is also a proven opening combination. However, if we look at the short-term scenario, New Zealand’s bowlers would be under greater pressure if Suryavanshi opens with Abhishek. The Indian team management would do well to unleash Abhishek and Suryavanshi against New Zealand in Hamilton on Sunday.

Edited by Renin Wilben Albert