“I did not feel bad for Vaibhav” – Former India cricketer’s interesting take after NZ vs IND 2026 4th T20I

Former India cricketer Rahul Sharma presented an interesting take on the team selection for the fourth T20I against New Zealand. The Men in Blue lost by 87 runs in Auckland.

As Ishan Kishan returned for the fourth T20I after recovering from injury, Vaibhav Suryavanshi was dropped from the playing XI. Rahul Sharma expressed that it was a fair decision and did not feel bad about Vaibhav’s perspective. He reckoned that it was right to back Kishan after returning from injury over the temptation of playing Vaibhav only because the series was already won.

“Ishan has been in great form and has done well. So if he is coming back from injury, you need to back him. He is an important part. I did not feel bad for Vaibhav. He is still developing. The more time you give him with the team and matches, the more he will grow. We are lucky that he is here and in the team. But there should be a mutual understanding, and Ishan deserves to come back. You won the series, and with two games left, you could have given Ishan more rest and played Vaibhav. But maybe Ishan would have wanted to play too. Because when a player is injured, he says he will play when he is fit and maybe that was the thinking,” he said on ‘Ash ki Baat‘.

Chasing a massive 260-run target, India could only make 172/9. Ishan Kishan’s return was not fruitful either, as he was dismissed for a three-ball duck.

Former India cricketer on why Vaibhav Suryavanshi has to wait

Former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin justified why Vaibhav Suryavanshi would have to wait for his chances. With Sanju Samson having made his international debut in 2015, he stated that the batter took this many years to finally cement his spot in the side. Due to the competition in India, he reckoned Vaibhav would have to wait.

“There are many fans of Vaibhav. Even my mom does not watch if he is not playing. I am also a big fan of his. But you also have to look at Samson’s story. He worked hard in the last 10-15 years. Many times, he got close but did not get chances and even failed. He came back, and now he has cemented his spot. It is his time now. He is there. He has performed. There is no question about Abhishek’s spot either. Ishan, the way he has performed in the last 18 months everywhere, his place is also fixed. Vaibhav deserves. But unfortunately, he is in India. There is so much competition. And he is not a complete player yet,” he said.

Further, Ashwin explained how Abhishek, Samson, and Kishan predominantly play only one format at the moment. Therefore, it would not make sense to drop them from the only format they play to accommodate someone else. From that perspective, he reckoned the three batters deserved more backing than Vaibhav at the moment.

“Abhishek plays only one format. There is no place for him in Tests and ODIs. Ishan Kishan also. Samson also. Their cricket is only in this format. So if they don’t play here and you say to drop them and give someone else a chance, what will they do? We must have some sympathy for these players. They rightfully deserve to hold onto their places. Vaibhav can make his place eventually, but those three deserve it more than he does.”

So far, Vaibhav Suryavanshi has played 10 T20Is. He has scored 295 runs at an average of 29.50 and a strike rate of 185.53.

Edited by Rishab Vm