“It is good for Vaibhav as well” – Former MI and CSK star’s interesting take on teenager being dropped from playing XI for NZ vs IND 2026 4th T20I

Former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu believes that Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s exclusion from the playing XI will only benefit him in the long run. The teenager was dropped from the side for the fourth T20I against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday, October 30, as Ishan Kishan made his way back to the side.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi had struck a stunning 45 off 19 balls in the third T20I in Wellington, but it was not enough to keep him in the side. At the toss for the fourth T20I against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday, Shreyas Iyer confirmed the 15-year-old had been left out, with Ishan Kishan returning after the low-grade right adductor strain that ruled him out of the second and third matches. Mayank Yadav replaced Bhuvneshwar Kumar as the other change.

“We’ve made two changes. Ishan comes back in for Vaibhav, and Mayank replaces Bhuvi,” the India captain confirmed at the toss.

Ambati Rayudu feels that the time out of the playing XI could be a crucial learning experience for the youngster.

“I think it is very good for management to be clear, and it is good for Vaibhav as well, because he will be waiting for his opportunity. Vaibhav, sitting out, will definitely learn a lot; he will understand what it takes and what is required to be a part of the playing XI,” he said on Cricbuzz.

“Since Sanju and Abhishek have been phenomenal and won the World Cup for India, so they deserve to be persisted with for some time to come. Sanju has been a proper match-winner whenever he has got going. The good thing about them is that they take on the bowlers when the conditions are tough as well,” he added.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi has struggled for game time in recent times. He featured in India’s Asian Games 2026 campaign, before sitting out the entirety of the home series against West Indies.

“I don’t think it suits him quite well” – Ambati Rayudu on Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s batting position amid NZ vs IND 2026 T20Is

Ambati Rayudu also feels that if Vaibhav Suryavanshi has to feature in the playing XI, it has to be up top, instead of the No.3 role he played earlier in the series. In the second T20I at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, he walked in at No.3 for the first time during the sixth over, and made 4 off 8 balls before he was caught at extra cover off Nathan Smith.

“I think opening is the best slot for him, because once he goes in with the field spread out, and with the kind of batsmanship he has right now, I don’t think it suits him quite well. Once he has the powerplay going, he is quite ruthless and exceptional. To go in with the field spread out, I don’t think he is ready for it at this moment. He needs more experience to do that job,” Rayudu opined.

India won the toss for the fourth time in a row and elected to chase again. At the time of writing, speedster Mayank Yadav has opened the bowling for the visitors with the new ball.

Edited by Gokul Nair