Former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik has said that even though teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi struck a blistering 19-ball 45 in the third T20I against New Zealand in Wellington, he will have to move to the bench to make room for Ishan Kishan, who could return for the fourth T20I of the series.
Ishan Kishan sat out the second and third T20Is because of a right adductor strain he suffered in the series opener in Christchurch. Vaibhav Suryavanshi took his place at No.3 in the second T20I and made 4 off 8, after which he was promoted to open in the third T20I on Tuesday, October 27, and featured in a 133-run partnership with Abhishek Sharma that helped secure a comprehensive six-wicket win.
Sooryavanshi smashed 4 fours and 4 sixes in his innings, but Dinesh Karthik, while calling the knock brilliant and assuring, stated that hierarchy doesn’t change and if Kishan returns to the India XI for the fourth T20I in Auckland, Sooryavanshi will have to return to the bench.
"I don't find it tricky at all. If everyone is available, Vaibhav has to wait his turn. These three have been extraordinary. As bad as it sounds, it is a fact. It goes without saying that some of the biggest Super Smash scores are from Auckland, so it is a high-scoring venue. We have to wait and see what the pitch is and what sort of team India and New Zealand will play now that the series is done, now that they can afford to give chances to others if they choose to," Karthik said on Cricbuzz.
Karthik backed the World Cup-winning top three of Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan to continue, and they are the reason for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi warming the bench for the home T20Is against Afghanistan and the West Indies. He did get a few games for India in the Asian Games 2026.
This huge 6-wicket win has given India an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-T20I series. This has given the Men in Blue management the chance to bench the first-choice players, as they have Kuldeep Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy and Shivam Dube on the sidelines waiting for a chance.
However, Dinesh Karthik noted that Gautam Gambhir and co. might go for a few changes but should change their winning habit.
"I think the default would be to bat with deep batters. I completely understand why they are doing it, and it has produced results, so why not? Winning is a habit; it is a mentality. So, you want to make changes, but not with the attitude of, 'It is okay if I lose.' So, if it means you have to chase five games, so be it. You don't want to try to be okay with losing just because you won the series 3-0," Karthik concluded.
Reports indicated that Ishan Kishan batted in the indoor nets during the third T20I in Wellington, although India have not yet confirmed whether he will be available for the next match. The fourth T20I is scheduled for Friday, 30 October at Eden Park in Auckland.
