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Abhishek, Vaibhav or Sanju: who should open for India at Eden Park?

Two openers, three candidates. With the series won 3-0, India's best selection question at Eden Park is not about who plays but who walks out first.

The case for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

In Wellington he opened with Abhishek Sharma, and the pair put on 133 for the first wicket; Sooryavanshi made 45 from 19 balls and India were 118 for 0 after the powerplay. Aakash Chopra has said India cannot bench him now and should keep him and Abhishek as the opening pair.

He had made 4 from 8 balls batting at No. 3 in the second T20I, where he was bowled by Nathan Smith, so the role may matter as much as the player.

The case for Sanju Samson

India had opened with Samson and Abhishek since the Asian Games final, because management felt they deserved more chances. S Badrinath, on his YouTube channel, called it "unfair" for Samson to give up the opening spot for Sooryavanshi and said "the position is more important than the player".

The counter-argument is Mitchell Santner: he has dismissed Samson four times in seven innings and Samson averages 8.5 against him, according to a preview.

And Abhishek?

There is no case to make against him, because nobody is arguing it. He made 113 from 38 balls in Wellington. Whoever opens beside him, he stays.

So who gets the other slot?

India said before the series that Sooryavanshi could not yet claim a place in the side; the Wellington result suggests that view has moved on. A sold-out Eden Park, with Santner likely to be among the bowlers early, may give the clearest test yet. Who would you open with? Tell us in the comments on our Facebook post.

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