Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has backed the team management’s decision to promote Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to No. 3 for the second T20I against New Zealand, saying it was important not to disrupt the opening combination of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson.
Sooryavanshi came into the side as a replacement for the injured Ishan Kishan but was unable to make an impact, scoring just four runs off eight deliveries. Although still batting in the powerplay, Sooryavanshi looked a bit out of rhythm, which was expected. Kaif said it would be unfair to judge the youngster based on one or two innings, particularly given his recent form and the change in his role.
“It will be unfair if we judge Vaibhav by an innings or two right now, given the phase he is
going through,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel. He added that No. 3 was not Sooryavanshi’s natural position but felt the management had made the right call.
Sooryavanshi had won the IPL Orange Cap a few months ago, but has since had to wait for his chances at the international level, playing three matches each in England and Zimbabwe, but warming the bench for home series against the West Indies and Afghanistan.
However, he didn’t think the management should have made space for him at the top.
“If you open with him and break the in-form pair of Abhishek and Samson, and then with Ishan coming back, you will have to shuffle a lot then. There will be a lot of shuffling. But by sending him at three, they did not change the batting order, which was the right decision,” he added.
He also pointed to the need for flexibility in T20 cricket, where players are often required to bat at different positions depending on team combinations and match situations.
“This is a format where a lot of players adjust, even in different positions. Take Naman Dhir itself. That flexibility has to be there,” Kaif said.
He added that the management had to consider Kishan’s return when deciding the batting order and backed Sooryavanshi to get more opportunities to prove himself.
Kaif said the youngster’s performances should be assessed over a longer period, particularly when he gets the chance to bat in his preferred role.
