R Ashwin sends clear message to Team India on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s batting position

Ashwin backs Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as India’s opener in New Zealand T20I series

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has urged the national team to keep Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in his natural opening role while Ishan Kishan remains unavailable. Ashwin believes Sanju Samson is the more suitable choice at No. 3, allowing the young left-hander to continue where he has shown his greatest promise.

The debate over India’s batting order gathered pace during the five-match T20I series against New Zealand. Sooryavanshi was moved to No. 3 for the second match, but returned to the top of the order in the third—and made an immediate impact. His brisk innings helped India seize control early and maintain their winning momentum.

Sooryavanshi makes his mark back at the top

Sooryavanshi’s place in the India side had not appeared certain at the start of the tour. The teenager missed the home T20I series against the West Indies and was also absent from the opening match in New Zealand. An injury to Kishan, a regular contender for the No. 3 position, created an opportunity for the young batter.

India used Sooryavanshi at No. 3 in the second T20I, a change from the opening role in which he has built his reputation as an aggressive short-format batter. The experiment did not produce the desired result, and he was unable to make a significant contribution in that position.

For the third match in Wellington, the team management restored Sooryavanshi to the opening slot alongside Abhishek Sharma, with Samson moving to No. 3. The adjustment paid off. Sooryavanshi struck 45 from just 19 deliveries, giving India a rapid start and putting pressure on New Zealand’s bowlers from the outset. India went on to win the match, strengthening its grip on the series.

The innings was a timely reminder of the value of role clarity in T20 cricket. An opener is often asked to attack during the powerplay, when fielding restrictions create opportunities to score over the infield. Sooryavanshi’s natural attacking approach appeared well suited to that assignment, while moving him down the order could require a different tempo and decision-making approach.

Ashwin says India should avoid unnecessary batting-order changes

Speaking on his YouTube programme Ash ki Baat, Ashwin said he saw little reason to create uncertainty around Sooryavanshi’s position. He acknowledged that the teenager may not be India’s first-choice option when the full batting group is available, but argued that the team should make the best use of the players selected for each match.

“I think we are creating confusion without reason. It is very clear. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is not the first-choice pick in the XI. Sanju and Abhishek will be at the top. But I really like what they did in this game. For a particular game, you need to pick the right order with the XI you have,” Ashwin said.

Ashwin’s view is that Samson should take the No. 3 position until Kishan is fit to return. Samson brings experience to the middle order and can adapt to different match situations, while Sooryavanshi can remain in the role where his attacking strengths are most evident.

“Till Ishan is back, your best option is Samson for the number three role. He has that experience. Till Ishan comes back, this is the right option,” Ashwin added.

Why role clarity matters in T20 cricket

Batting positions are not simply numbers on a team sheet. They shape a player’s expected approach, the risks they can take and the way they respond to a changing match. An opener may need to make the most of the powerplay, whereas a No. 3 batter could arrive early after a wicket or later when the innings needs rebuilding.

That distinction can be especially important for a young player still establishing himself at international level. Regularly changing positions may help a batter become versatile, but frequent adjustments can also make it harder to settle into a clear role. Ashwin’s recommendation offers India a straightforward short-term arrangement: retain Sooryavanshi at the top, use Samson at No. 3, and reassess the order when Kishan becomes available.

India have already secured the series

India’s third consecutive win gave the visitors an unassailable lead in the five-match T20I series. New Zealand can no longer take the series, but the remaining games still offer both sides useful opportunities: India can test its combinations and maintain momentum, while the hosts will look to respond and avoid losing every match.

The fourth T20I is scheduled for October 30 in Auckland. India will be aiming to extend its winning run, and a victory in the final two matches would complete a series whitewash. New Zealand, meanwhile, will need to find a way to contain India’s aggressive top order and turn promising moments into sustained pressure.

Prediction: India favoured to carry its momentum forward

Based on the results so far, India will enter the fourth match as the side with greater confidence. Its recent success, combined with Sooryavanshi’s explosive return as an opener, gives the team a positive platform. However, a series already decided can bring different selection choices and match conditions, so the result is not guaranteed.

The key question for India will be whether it keeps the successful batting arrangement intact. If Kishan remains unavailable, Ashwin’s proposed combination—Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma opening, with Samson at No. 3—offers continuity while making use of each batter’s experience and strengths. For Sooryavanshi, another opportunity at the top could further demonstrate why his natural position remains central to the discussion around India’s T20I batting order.