Ashwin Suggests Sanju Samson Return to No. 3 for India
New Delhi, October 25: Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has called India's use of Vaibhav Suryavanshi at number three in the second T20 International against New Zealand an error, saying the young batter was not comfortable in the role.
Ashwin's criticism centres on the batting order rather than on the youngster's ability. He believes the team needs a clearer plan if it wants to include Suryavanshi, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma in the same starting eleven.
Suryavanshi came into the side after Ishan Kishan was injured and ruled out of the series. The match in Christchurch was his first of the tour, but it proved to be a tough outing. He made 4 runs off 8 balls. Samson and Abhishek Sharma kept their original positions at the top of the order.
In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said the innings was a miss. He added that it may be harsh to call a player of Vaibhav's age a failure, but the choice was limited to either a hit or a miss. He said the young batter appeared uneasy, much like a fish pulled out of water, and kept trying to force the issue during the eight balls he faced.
The former spinner said his analysis was not about how many runs Suryavanshi scored but about how difficult it is to adjust to a new batting position. Suryavanshi, who is known for his aggressive approach, struggled to find his timing against New Zealand. Ashwin felt he needed a senior partner at the crease to offer reassurance.
Ashwin said the batter did not look as though he was picking up the length and line of the ball. In a tense situation, he explained, a young player benefits from hearing simple advice from a senior teammate, such as staying calm, keeping the bat close to the body and watching the ball more closely. He also questioned the decision to send Suryavanshi in during the sixth over.
As a solution, Ashwin proposed that Sanju Samson, who has previously batted at number three when the same combination was used, could return to the middle order. The wicketkeeper-batter would move down, allowing Suryavanshi to bat in a role better aligned with his natural game.
Ashwin admitted he was unsure whether Vaibhav should bat at number three if India continues with the same combination. Even so, he said it was a setback for the young player on the day.
The debate arises as India experiments with its batting lineup during the five-match T20 International series. With Samson and Abhishek opening, the team faces the key question of how to fit Suryavanshi into the side in upcoming games, especially if it wants to preserve his aggressive style without placing him in an unfamiliar position.
Despite Suryavanshi's struggles, India's middle and lower-middle order gave fans plenty to cheer in the second T20. Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Naman Dhir made valuable contributions as India chased down New Zealand's target of 180 runs.