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'He should have opened' - Murali Kartik criticises India's handling of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

During the second T20I encounter against New Zealand on Sunday, October 25, fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi batted at number three and contributed four runs from eight balls after stepping in for injured teammate Ishan Kishan. The teenager had previously missed the entire series against the West Indies and the opening match against the Kiwis.

Former spinner Murali Kartik criticized the team leadership during a post-match television appearance on the Sony Sports Network, arguing that the youngster should have been deployed as an opener rather than being forced into an unfamiliar middle-order role. Kartik asserted that senior player Sanju Samson possessed the versatility to handle the number three position instead, noting that pushing Sooryavanshi into the middle order disrupted a batting style best suited to the top.

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