Former Indian batter Ambati Rayudu has backed the team management’s decision to drop Vaibhav Sooryavanshi from the playing XI in the fourth T20I against New Zealand. Ishan Kishan made a comeback to the final XI after recovering from his injury and thus Sooryavanshi was left out.
The youngster had managed only four runs off eight balls in the second game of the series while batting at one drop. The 15-year-old was then promoted as an opener in the third game and he smashed a quickfire knock of 45 runs off just 18 balls, including four fours and as many sixes.
Rayudu said role clarity is important in the team and Sooryavanshi will benefit from this.
“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,” Rayudu said on Cricbuzz.
The former CSK batter said Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma should be backed as first-choice openers.
“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.
Rayudu said opening is the best slot for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi if he is part of the playing XI.
“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 has decided to bowl first in the fourth T20I.
