Hamilton: Former India cricketer Ambati Rayudu has called for a significant change to India’s batting combination despite Shubman Gill’s team taking a 2-0 lead in the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand. Rayudu believes wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan should be included in the playing XI to bring a left-handed option into the middle order.
However, former India spinner Murali Kartik has expressed a different opinion, questioning whether Kishan would be effective in the middle order and suggesting that he should bat either as an opener or at No. 3.
The debate comes ahead of the third ODI at Seddon Park in Hamilton on November 10, with India looking to secure the five-match series after winning the first two encounters.
Despite the series advantage, India’s batting performances have raised concerns. The visitors struggled while chasing relatively modest targets in both matches, making their middle-order combination an important talking point.
Rayudu believes India should consider making changes rather than continuing with a batting arrangement that has not consistently delivered. Kartik, meanwhile, feels that introducing Kishan into an unfamiliar batting position may not necessarily solve the problem.
Ambati Rayudu suggests including Ishan Kishan
Rayudu believes Ishan Kishan could provide India with an important left-handed batting option in the middle order.
The former India batter pointed towards the difficulties faced by Axar Patel while batting at No. 5 in the first two ODIs. Axar has struggled to make an impact in that position, scoring a two-ball duck in the opening match and seven runs off 17 deliveries in Wellington.
Rayudu suggested that India could consider bringing Kishan into the playing XI by replacing Naman Dhir.
The former cricketer believes Kishan’s aggressive batting approach and left-handed presence could add variety to India’s batting line-up.
His inclusion could also help India avoid becoming overly dependent on right-handed batters during important stages of an innings.
Kishan has considerable experience in international cricket and the IPL. His ability to score quickly against both pace and spin makes him an option worth considering in India’s middle-order planning.
Rayudu also discussed the possibility of using Tilak Varma as a future middle-order option. He believes Tilak could provide another left-handed alternative at No. 4 while offering an additional bowling option through his off-spin.
The former batter’s broader argument is that India should maintain flexibility in its batting order and explore combinations that offer greater balance.
Murali Kartik disagrees with Rayudu’s proposal
Murali Kartik does not entirely agree with Rayudu’s suggestion of using Kishan in the middle order.
The former India spinner believes Kishan is more suited to opening the innings or batting at No. 3.
Kartik pointed out that Kishan has been used at No. 3 in India’s T20I setup, and changing his role in the ODI team could create another challenge.
According to Kartik’s assessment, if India decide to include Kishan, they should give him a position where he can play his natural game rather than move him into the middle order simply to introduce a left-handed batter.
This difference of opinion highlights an important selection question for India.
While having left-right batting combinations can disrupt opposition bowling plans, the position of a batter is equally important. A player who performs well at the top of the order may not necessarily produce the same results when asked to bat in the middle.
Kartik’s position is therefore centred on using Kishan according to his established batting strengths.
Axar Patel’s struggles at No. 5 raise selection questions
Axar Patel’s batting position has become a central part of the discussion following India’s first two matches against New Zealand.
The all-rounder was promoted to No. 5 in both encounters, but the move did not produce the desired results.
In the opening ODI in Auckland, Axar was dismissed for a two-ball duck. In the second match in Wellington, he managed only seven runs from 17 deliveries.
His dismissal in the second ODI was particularly disappointing because India were already under pressure during the chase.
India were pursuing a target of 135 after bowling New Zealand out for 134. However, the visitors lost wickets regularly and found themselves in a difficult position.
Axar’s inability to contribute with the bat increased the pressure on the remaining middle-order players.
Rayudu believes that this is an area where India could consider a change. Rather than continuing to promote Axar into a position where he has struggled, the team could explore an alternative batting combination.
Kishan’s inclusion would provide an opportunity to introduce another attacking batter and improve the left-right balance.
However, the decision would also depend on India’s bowling requirements. Axar offers valuable left-arm spin and contributes to the team’s balance as an all-rounder.
Replacing him with Kishan could therefore require India to reconsider its bowling combination.
Tilak Varma emerges as another middle-order option
Rayudu also highlighted Tilak Varma as a potential solution for India’s future middle-order requirements.
The left-handed batter has demonstrated his ability to perform in limited-overs cricket and could provide India with another option at No. 4.
Tilak’s batting approach makes him suitable for situations where the team needs someone capable of building an innings while maintaining a healthy scoring rate.
His part-time off-spin could also offer additional flexibility to the bowling attack.
Rayudu believes having a left-handed batter in the middle order could make India’s batting line-up more difficult for opposition captains to manage.
This is particularly relevant against teams that rely heavily on match-ups between particular bowlers and batters.
However, Tilak is not part of India’s squad for the first three ODIs. According to the BCCI’s selection announcement, he joins the squad for the fourth and fifth matches, when Shreyas Iyer takes over the captaincy from Shubman Gill.
This means Kishan remains a more immediate selection option for the Hamilton encounter.
India’s 2-0 lead hides batting concerns
India’s series advantage does not tell the complete story of their performances with the bat.
The visitors won the opening ODI in Auckland by five wickets under the DLS method. However, the second match in Wellington proved considerably more challenging.
New Zealand were bowled out for 134 in 41 overs after India’s fast bowlers delivered an impressive performance.
Gurnoor Brar was the standout bowler, claiming four wickets for 30 runs. Auqib Nabi, Anshul Kamboj and Axar Patel also contributed with two wickets each.
India appeared well placed to complete the chase comfortably. However, the New Zealand bowlers made early inroads.
Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli departed cheaply, while Rohit Sharma could not convert his start into a substantial innings.
Shreyas Iyer scored 30 runs and KL Rahul remained unbeaten on 26, helping India reach 113 for seven in 26 overs before rain interrupted play.
India eventually secured a four-run victory under the DLS method.
The result gave India a 2-0 lead, but the batting performance raised questions about the team’s ability to handle pressure when chasing relatively small targets.
India captain Gill also acknowledged that the team had lost more wickets than expected during the chase.
Ishan Kishan’s international experience strengthens his case
Ishan Kishan brings considerable international experience to the discussion.
The left-handed wicketkeeper-batter has previously demonstrated his ability to score aggressively in ODIs. His double century against Bangladesh in December 2022 remains one of the most memorable innings of his international career.
Kishan’s ability to attack from the beginning could be useful if India decide to change their batting combination.
He also provides wicketkeeping cover, although KL Rahul remains an established option behind the stumps.
One consideration is that Kishan has not played regularly in the ODI format in recent years. His inclusion would therefore need to be supported by a clear batting role and sufficient opportunities to regain consistency.
Rayudu’s suggestion is not simply about replacing one player with another. It is about creating a batting order that offers different scoring options and greater flexibility.
Kartik’s argument, meanwhile, raises an important question about whether India should change a player’s batting position to accommodate a particular combination.
Both former cricketers have highlighted different aspects of the same selection challenge.
India vs New Zealand third ODI: Date, venue and team changes
The third ODI between India and New Zealand will be played at Seddon Park in Hamilton on November 10, 2026.
India will enter the match with a 2-0 advantage and an opportunity to seal the five-match series.
The match is scheduled to begin at 7.30 am IST.
There will also be changes to India’s squad for the final two ODIs. Shreyas Iyer will take over the captaincy from Gill, while Tilak Varma, Auqib Nabi, Kumar Kushagra and Yash Thakur are included in the squad for the fourth and fifth matches.
The changes are part of the BCCI’s previously announced split-squad arrangement.
For the immediate Hamilton encounter, the selection debate will revolve around whether India retain their existing batting combination or consider Rayudu’s suggestion of bringing Kishan into the playing XI.
| Match detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | 3rd ODI |
| Date | November 10, 2026 |
| Venue | Seddon Park, Hamilton |
| Start time | 7.30 am IST |
| Series score | India lead 2-0 |
| India captain | Shubman Gill |
Conclusion: India face a selection dilemma despite series advantage
India’s 2-0 lead against New Zealand has given the team a strong position in the ODI series. However, the batting performances in the first two matches suggest that some adjustments could be worth considering.
Ambati Rayudu wants Ishan Kishan included to provide a left-handed option, while Murali Kartik believes the wicketkeeper-batter should be used as an opener or at No. 3 rather than in the middle order.
Rayudu has also identified Tilak Varma as a possible long-term solution for India’s middle-order requirements.
The final decision will rest with the Indian team management. With the series within reach, the Hamilton ODI could provide an important opportunity to assess India’s batting combinations ahead of the remaining matches.