IND vs NZ 2026: 'I'd like to see him at 3' - Robin Uthappa's huge remark on India's playing 11 for 1st T20I

Robin Uthappa wants to see Punjab Kings' captain Shreyas Iyer bat at No. 3 during the T20I series featuring India and New Zealand. However, the 2007 T20 World Cup winner will have to wait for his wish to be fulfilled as Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav confirmed in the pre-match press conference that Ishan Kishan will get the first shot at No. 3.

Shreyas was added to the side in the last minute after an injury ruled Tilak Verma out of the first three T20Is. On the other hand, Kishan was part of the squad

since the time it was announced. Suryakumar said that the wicketkeeper-batter will play the first T20I ahead of Shreyas as he is also a part of the T20 World Cup squad.

"Ishan Kishan will bat at No.3 as he deserves to play since he is part of the World Cup team. Obviously you can’t do anything about injuries (Washington Sundar and Tilak Verma) so it will be an opportunity for new player and I wish him all the best," Suryakumar stated on Tuesday, January 20.

The first T20I is set to be played at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on Wednesday, January 21. Uthappa opined that it is high time the team management slots Shreyas into the No. 3 slot in the batting order.

"I'd like to see Shreyas Iyer at 3 because he comes in as a replacement. It's about time they brought Shreyas in. Shreyas at 3, Surya at 4, Shivam, Hardik, at 5, 6, depending on what they want, left-right, left-right," Uthappa said in his latest YouTube video.

Kishan will be playing an international match for the first time since November 2023. He will be quietly confident heading into the series, having led Jharkhand to a maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy this season. He finished as the highest run-getter, amassing 517 runs in 10 innings at an average of 57.44 and a strike rate of 196.43 in the domestic T20 competition. He also smashed a belligerent 125 off just 39 balls in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in a game against Karnataka.