Former Coach Advocates for Vaibhav Suryavanshis Inclusion in Final T20 Against West Indies
Abhishek Nayar supports Vaibhav Suryavanshis inclusion in Indias T20 squad, urging no changes to the top order for the decisive match.
Bengaluru, October 16 (Daily Kiran) : The fifth and final T20 match between India and West Indies is set to take place on Saturday at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. With the series tied at 2-2, this match is crucial for both teams as they vie for the trophy.
The Indian team management faces a significant decision: whether to include young batsman Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the playing eleven. Suryavanshi has yet to play in this series, having been sidelined for all four previous matches.
Former assistant coach Abhishek Nayar believes Suryavanshi should be given a chance in the fifth T20 but insists that no changes should be made to the top order. He suggested altering the bowling lineup instead.
Speaking on GeoHostar, Nayar stated, “Suryavanshi should only be considered if India is ready to utilize him in his natural opener position.” He emphasized that if Suryavanshi plays, he should bat at the top of the order, allowing the player at number three to also perform in their strongest position. Nayar expressed his desire to see Suryavanshi in action in Bengaluru but advocated for changes in the bowling department rather than the batting order.
In the series, the opening partnership of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson has yielded mixed results. Sharma has scored 139 runs in four innings, including a notable 69 off 30 balls, while Samson has amassed 152 runs, highlighted by a rapid 82 off 41 balls in Ranchi and a quick 56 off 23 balls in Hyderabad. This performance complicates the decision for coach Rahul Dravid and captain Shreyas Iyer regarding Suryavanshi’s inclusion.
Suryavanshi made his senior India debut on July 4 against England but had a modest outing in that series. However, he shone in the T20 series against Zimbabwe, scoring 151 runs with two half-centuries, earning him the Player of the Match award. Despite this, he did not get a chance in the subsequent series against Afghanistan. In the Asian Games, he scored 38 runs off 21 balls against Sri Lanka and 15 runs off nine balls in the final against Pakistan. Now, Suryavanshi eagerly awaits his next opportunity.
