Former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu said that Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s exclusion from the playing XI will only help him in the long run. The teenager was dropped from the team for the fourth T20I against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday, October 30, as Ishan Kishan returned to the side. Vaibhav Suryavanshi smashed a stunning 45 off 19 balls in the third T20I in Wellington as well.

“We’ve made two changes. Ishan comes back in for Vaibhav, and Mayank replaces Bhuvi,” the India captain confirmed at the toss. “I think it is very good for management to be clear, and it is good for Vaibhav as well, because he will be waiting for his opportunity. Vaibhav, sitting out, will definitely learn a lot; he will understand what it takes and what is required to be a part of the playing XI,” he said on Cricbuzz.

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“Since Sanju and Abhishek have been phenomenal and won the World Cup for India, so they deserve to be persisted with for some time to come. Sanju has been a proper match-winner whenever he has got going. The good thing about them is that they take on the bowlers when the conditions are tough as well,” he further added.

Ambati Rayudu also feels that if Vaibhav Suryavanshi has to play in the playing XI, it has to be up top, instead of the No.3.

“I think opening is the best slot for him, because once he goes in with the field spread out, and with the kind of batsmanship he has right now, I don’t think it suits him quite well. Once he has the powerplay going, he is quite ruthless and exceptional. To go in with the field spread out, I don’t think he is ready for it at this moment. He needs more experience to do that job,” Ambati Rayudu concluded.