Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif has firmly backed the team management’s decision to play Vaibhav Sooryavanshi out of his natural position in the second T20I against New Zealand. The 15-year-old was forced to bat at number three. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi had replaced injured Ishan Kishan and had to bat in the same position as Kishan, as the Indians stuck to the regular opening combination of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson.
Mohammad Kaif felt that for someone like Vaibhav, who has been playing regularly, having to wait for his chances can be difficult. Further, batting out of position is also not easy, and he should not be judged too early. However, Kaif explained that it was a tactical move to play Vaibhav at three. Kaif felt that disrupting the combination would have led to a major reshuffling in the batting order.
Mohammad Kaif’s views on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s batting position
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Mohammad Kaif said, “It will be unfair if we judge Vaibhav by an innings or two right now, given the phase he is going through. He won the Orange Cap a few months ago in the IPL. He was in great form but had to wait for a spot. For someone who is not used to waiting, who has been playing regularly, it has been stop-and-start. And number three is also not his natural spot. But I feel it was the right call.”
He further added, “If you open with him and break the in-form pair of Abhishek and Samson, and then with Ishan coming back, you will have to shuffle a lot then. There will be a lot of shuffling. But by sending at three, they did not change the batting order, which was the right decision.”Â
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi struggled and failed to get going. The youngster’s stay at the crease was short, as he was dismissed for just 4 runs off 8 balls.
Mohammad Kaif urged Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to adjust
Further on, Mohammad Kaif reckoned that the T20 format is such that players often have to adjust according to the needs of the team. He felt that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi would have to do the same until he gets an opportunity to open the batting. Kaif once again backed the management for taking the right call by not changing the batting order. Despite it being difficult for a youngster to bat out of position after waiting for his chance, he presented the management’s perspective behind the decision.
Mohammad Kaif said, “This is a format where a lot of players adjust, even in different positions. Take Naman Dhir itself. That flexibility has to be there. I am sure it would have been tough after not playing and going directly to number three. But thinking from the management’s perspective, if Ishan is fit, he can come back at three. So it was definitely the right call. We have to see what Vaibhav can do when he gets more chances.”
Having said that, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi would feel the heat to the fullest after failing in the opportunity he got due to Ishan Kishan missing out, as he made just 4 runs and got out.
It remains to be seen how Vaibhav shapes up in the following matches. With Ishan set to miss the third match as well, we expect Vaibhav to keep his place. Whether the management keeps him at 3 or promotes him higher in the order remains to be seen. For now, he has to score runs. The last match was a failure. But one hopes he gets better in the coming games. Vaibhav will be keen to get a score in Gam 3 at Wellington.
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