New Delhi: Former India batter Subramaniam Badrinath has proposed an unexpected change to India’s playing XI for the third T20 International against New Zealand, suggesting that spinner Varun Chakaravarthy should replace teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
The suggestion comes ahead of Tuesday’s third T20I in Wellington, where India will look to extend their 2–0 lead in the five-match series and secure an unassailable advantage. Badrinath believes India’s lower-order batting has provided sufficient depth, allowing the team management to consider strengthening its bowling attack.
His proposal has added another dimension to the debate surrounding Sooryavanshi’s place in the team after the 15-year-old struggled to make an impact while batting at No. 3 in the second T20I. However, Badrinath’s suggestion remains an opinion on team selection, not an official announcement from the Indian team management.
Badrinath backs an additional bowling option
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Cric it with BadriBadrinath argued that India could use Chakaravarthy in place of Sooryavanshi rather than continue with the current combination.
He pointed to New Zealand’s scores in the first two matches, noting that India’s bowling attack could have restricted the hosts to lower totals. In his assessment, adding another specialist bowler would give the team greater flexibility and help it control the opposition’s scoring.
New Zealand scored 225 for four in the opening T20I before India chased down the target to win by four wickets. In the second match, the hosts posted 180 for five, but India again completed the chase, winning by four wickets.
Badrinath’s argument is that an additional bowling option could help India prevent such substantial totals and make their chases more manageable. With the team already leading the series, he believes the management can consider whether its batting depth permits a more bowling-focused combination.
Why Sooryavanshi’s position is under scrutiny
Sooryavanshi returned to India’s playing XI for the second T20I after wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan suffered a low-grade right adductor strain during the series opener.
Instead of opening, the youngster was sent in at No. 3 as India retained the established opening combination of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. Sooryavanshi managed four runs from eight deliveries, leaving questions about whether he is best suited to the position.
The teenager has earned attention for his aggressive batting and ability to score quickly at the top of the order. However, India’s management must also consider the form and roles of the other batters when deciding the composition of the playing XI.
Badrinath believes Sooryavanshi should not automatically be accommodated at the expense of the team’s established combination. Rather than moving Samson down the order to make room for the teenager as an opener, he favours retaining the current batting arrangement and using the available place to strengthen the bowling attack.
Badrinath says Samson should retain his opening role
Badrinath also questioned whether it would be fair to ask Samson to surrender his opening position to accommodate Sooryavanshi.
Samson has experience batting in the middle order, including at No. 3 during his time with Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League. Nevertheless, Badrinath believes the wicketkeeper-batter’s current role should not be changed unnecessarily, particularly when he has been performing well as an opener.
The former India batter’s view is that team selection should take account of the role in which a player is currently succeeding, rather than changing the established order simply to fit another player into the preferred position.
This leaves India with a selection dilemma. The management can continue giving Sooryavanshi opportunities to develop at No. 3, move Samson down the order and restore the teenager to the opening position, or consider a different combination that adds another specialist bowler.
Badrinath favours the third option, with Chakaravarthy replacing Sooryavanshi.
Chakaravarthy’s possible return
Chakaravarthy is part of India’s T20I squad for the New Zealand tour, but he has not featured in the opening matches. Reports indicate that he had been sidelined after sustaining an abdominal side strain during the T20I series against Afghanistan.
His inclusion would provide India with another specialist spin option alongside the team’s existing bowling resources. Whether he is ready to return and whether the management considers him suitable for the conditions in Wellington will be important factors in any selection decision.
India must weigh the benefits of another spinner against the need to maintain enough pace-bowling options. The final combination will depend on the team’s assessment of the pitch, conditions, player fitness and balance between batting and bowling.
India aim to seal the series in Wellington
India head into the third T20I with confidence after winning both matches in Christchurch by four wickets. A third consecutive victory would give them a 3–0 lead and clinch the five-match series.
New Zealand, meanwhile, need a win to remain in contention. The hosts will look to improve their performance with the ball after India successfully chased down targets in both opening games.
Ishan Kishan is unavailable for the third match as he continues his recovery from the adductor strain, leaving India to consider its options in the batting department. Sooryavanshi’s place and Chakaravarthy’s possible inclusion are therefore among the key talking points before the match.
Badrinath’s recommendation highlights a broader question for the team management: should India prioritise another batting opportunity for a promising young player, or use the available place to improve the bowling attack?
The decision will ultimately rest with the Indian selectors and team management. With the series within reach, their choice for the Wellington match could provide a clearer indication of how India intend to balance player development with the immediate goal of winning the series.