After Team India’s win in the second T20I against New Zealand, former India spinner Murali Kartik has questioned Vaibhav
Suryavanshi’s batting position. He added that the teenager should have opened and that Shivam Dube could have played if a middle-order batter was required as well.

During a discussion on Sony Sports, Kartik said, “Where is Vaibhav Suryavanshi good? He is good as an opener. He has not played in the middle. He is a young kid. He has batted only one way. That’s why you keep experienced players, so that they can play different roles. It’s a different thing that you won the match, but if you are playing Suryavanshi, he should have opened today.”

READ HERE: “He is not here for the milestones” – Hanuma Vihari on Virat Kohli

“Sanju Samson is your banker. He can play at a different position. People might ask why only him. If you are an experienced player, you will have to play such roles, especially when you have picked Vaibhav Suryavanshi. It would have been different had Suryavanshi not played today. Then Shivam Dube could have played if you had to make him bat in the middle order,” he further added.

Meanwhile, former India captain Ajay Jadeja backed Murali Kartik’s views on Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s batting position.

“I agree with him. Although you expect every Indian player to play at every number, and he would also start doing that, if you are grooming him, do it at his spot. You had made him sit out for so long in any case. It makes a difference when you keep sitting out,” he said in the same discussion. “If you groom someone, you give them the easier option, and, if required, you should put established players in difficult situations. If he doesn’t play with the freedom he plays with, he is a normal player like others.”