Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra gave credit to the team management for backing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as opener in the third T20I against New Zealand at the Hnry Stadium, Wellington, on Tuesday.
Sooryavanshi had batted at one down in the second game and had managed only four runs off eight balls. However, the youngster smashed a blistering knock of 45 runs off just 19 balls in the third game. He added 133 runs off just 43 balls with his opening partner, Abhishek Sharma in the run chase of 199.
Sooryavanshi was able to hit the ground running as he took the attack against Jacob Duffy from the get-go.
Aakash Chopra said on Cricinfo, “I personally felt, because I was advocating that if you’re going to play Vaibhav Suryavanshi, you must make a place for him as an opener. Obviously, while playing international cricket, you don’t want to talk about age, but he’s 15. A 15-year-old kid should only be given that much pressure to handle. International cricket is already a lot of pressure.
“So if anybody has to move around in the batting order, it should be the other people. I mean, it should be Abhishek, Sanju Samson, or Ishan Kishan, or whoever else. If I’m going to play a 15-year-old kid at this level, I will give him the spot that he’s most comfortable at, and that is opening for Vaibhav Suryavanshi,” Chopra added.
Chopra said Sooryavanshi should open the innings at all costs if he is part of the playing XI.
“So I think this is where he belongs. Yes, it’s going to be a tough call. Who bats at three? What happens when Ishan Kishan comes in? Okay, that’s a discussion for another day. But Vaibhav, whenever he plays, he must open.”
The fourth T20I between India and New Zealand will be played at Eden Park, Auckland, on Friday.
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