Ashwin Questions Team Managements Decision to Bat Vaibhav Suryawanshi at No. 3

New Delhi, October 25 (Daily Kiran) : Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has raised concerns about the decision to send young batsman Vaibhav Suryawanshi to bat at No. 3 during the second T20 International against New Zealand. Ashwin believes that this unfamiliar position hindered Suryawanshi from playing his natural game. He suggested that if the team intends to include all three batsmen in the lineup, Sanju Samson should take on the No. 3 responsibility.

Suryawanshi, who was given his first match of the series in Christchurch after Ishan Kishan’s injury, faced a challenging debut. He managed only 4 runs off 8 balls, while both Samson and Abhishek Sharma remained at their respective positions.

In a discussion on his YouTube channel, Ashwin described Suryawanshi’s performance as a “miss.” He stated, “It felt like he was a fish out of water. For a young cricketer like Vaibhav, calling it a ‘miss’ might be premature, but given the choice between ‘hit’ or ‘miss,’ it appeared he was quite uncomfortable.” He noted that Suryawanshi struggled to find his rhythm against New Zealand’s bowling attack.

Ashwin emphasized the difficulty of adapting to a different batting position, rather than focusing solely on the outcome of Suryawanshi’s brief innings. Known for his aggressive style, Suryawanshi could not find his footing, and Ashwin felt he needed guidance from an experienced teammate on the field.

“There was no sense that he was timing the ball well. At such times, you need a senior player to come over and say, ‘Stay calm, just hold your ground, try to play close to your body, and keep your eyes on the ball,'” Ashwin explained. “In the rush of the game, you often forget these basics. I felt like he was like a fish out of water. Coming in to bat in the sixth over did not suit him at all.”

To address the team’s selection puzzle, Ashwin suggested that when all three batsmen play together, the team has previously sent Samson to bat at No. 3. He proposed that the wicketkeeper-batsman could be moved down the order, allowing Suryawanshi to take on a role that better suits his strengths.

“I believe he has played with this combination before, and at that time, Sanju had to come in at No. 3. If they want to continue with this combination, I’m not sure if Vaibhav should bat at No. 3, but it is what it is. Today was a miss for Vaibhav,” Ashwin remarked.

This discussion arises as India tests its batting combinations during the five-match T20 International series. With Samson and Abhishek opening, how to fit Suryawanshi into the team will be a crucial question in upcoming matches. The team aims to maintain Suryawanshi’s aggressive style without placing him in a role that feels new to him. Despite Suryawanshi’s struggles, India’s middle and lower order showed promise in the second T20, with Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Naman Dheer contributing significantly to chase down New Zealand’s target of 180 runs.