Aakash Chopra Questions Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Omission in T20I Against New Zealand

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has voiced his concerns regarding the exclusion of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi from the T20I lineup against New Zealand. He argues that Sooryavanshi should not be seen merely as a substitute for injured players and suggests that if he is not going to play regularly, he should return to domestic cricket for more experience. Chopra calls for the team management to clarify their long-term plans for the young player, expressing disappointment over the lack of communication regarding his role. Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan's return to the team was marked by a disappointing performance.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 31, 2026, 14:24 IST

Concerns Over Sooryavanshi's Role

In New Delhi, former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has raised concerns regarding the decision to exclude Vaibhav Sooryavanshi from the playing XI in the fourth T20I against New Zealand, following the return of Ishan Kishan. Chopra emphasized that Sooryavanshi should not be viewed merely as a backup for injured players.

He pointed out that if Sooryavanshi is not going to receive consistent chances in the team, it would be more beneficial for him to return to domestic cricket, especially first-class matches, to enhance his skills and gain more experience at the crease.

Sooryavanshi had participated in the second and third T20Is against New Zealand while Kishan was sidelined due to injury, scoring 4 and 45 runs in those matches before being dropped for the fourth game.

Chopra noted, "In the last match, Abhishek scored a century while Vaibhav narrowly missed his fifty. The batting performance was commendable. The dilemma arose when considering who would be left out upon Kishan's return. Philosophically speaking, it seems logical to drop Sooryavanshi since he was filling in for an injured player. However, this match was inconsequential."

He further questioned the team's strategy regarding Sooryavanshi's inclusion, asking, "Will he only play when someone is injured or unavailable? If that's the case, it might be better for him to return home and focus on first-class cricket. While he can learn from being in the Indian dressing room, if this situation persists, he needs to be actively playing matches."

Chopra urged the team management to provide clarity on their plans and long-term vision for Sooryavanshi, expressing his disappointment over the young player's exclusion and the ambiguity surrounding his future role.

"The team should communicate their roadmap and philosophy. Perhaps they have a plan in place, but it hasn't been shared with anyone. Consequently, we are left in the dark about Sooryavanshi's future. His absence is somewhat disheartening," Chopra concluded.

In contrast, Kishan's return was less than ideal, as he was dismissed for a duck while India struggled to chase a daunting target of 260 runs, ultimately finishing at 172/9.