News Desk: India will be without wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan for the third T20I against New Zealand, scheduled to be played in Wellington on Tuesday, October 27. Kishan is still recovering from a low-grade right adductor strain, leaving the team management with an important decision to make ahead of the next match.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that Kishan has yet to regain full match fitness. He sustained the injury during the opening T20I of the series, and the medical team continues to monitor his recovery. Kumar Kushagra will remain with the Indian squad as his replacement.
Kishan's absence has also raised questions about India's batting combination, particularly the position of teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Sooryavanshi was included in the playing XI for the second T20I but struggled after being promoted to the No. 3 position. The young batter managed just four runs off eight deliveries before being dismissed. Although India won the match by four wickets, his performance prompted debate over whether the team was using him in the right batting position.
Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin questioned the decision to send Sooryavanshi into the middle order. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin suggested that the youngster appeared uncomfortable in the role and needed time to settle at the crease.
Ashwin also pointed out that entering the game during the sixth over can be challenging for a batter who is accustomed to opening the innings. He felt that guidance from an experienced partner could have helped the youngster manage the situation better.
Former cricketer Murali Kartik expressed a similar view, arguing that Sooryavanshi should be used as an opener if India decides to include him in the playing XI. According to Kartik, the teenager has primarily played at the top of the order and may need more experience before being asked to take on a different role.
With Kishan unavailable again, the team management must decide whether to retain Sooryavanshi at No. 3 or adjust the batting order. One possible option would be to promote him to open the innings and use Sanju Samson in the middle order, although India's final combination has not been confirmed.
India have won both of the first two matches against New Zealand, securing identical four-wicket victories in Christchurch. The team will now look to maintain its winning run in the five-match series.
The third T20I in Wellington could provide another opportunity for Sooryavanshi to demonstrate his potential. However, whether he gets that chance, and at which position he bats, will depend on the team management's selection and tactical decisions.
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