Sports · Cricket · 2 hrs ago
India leave Vaibhav Sooryavanshi out of final T20I against New Zealand
India left Vaibhav Sooryavanshi out of the final T20I against New Zealand, despite the series already being decided.
The 15-year-old batter played two matches, scoring 45 in one of his chances.
India had won the first three games and held an unassailable 3-1 lead before the final match in Hamilton.
Gautam Gambhir said his job was to make the right decisions, not to make everyone happy.
He said players who had performed well over a longer period deserved more time in the team, while India stuck with its established batting line-up.
The decision highlights the challenge of giving emerging players opportunities in a side with experienced performers.
The final T20I is the teams’ last match in the series before they move on to a five-match ODI series starting in Auckland on November 4.
India faced questions over team selection after an 87-run defeat to New Zealand in the fourth T20I at Auckland.
The defeat came with India already holding an unassailable 3-1 series lead.
Coach Gautam Gambhir defended leaving 15-year-old batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi out of the fifth T20I.
Sooryavanshi had played twice in the series, scoring 4 and 45.
India made two changes for the final match, both in the bowling department.
- Who
- India and New Zealand, with India coach Gautam Gambhir facing questions over team selection.
- What
- India lost the fourth T20I by 87 runs, prompting scrutiny of its selections ahead of the final match.
- When
- The defeat came before the fifth and final T20I, reported on November 1, 2026.
- Where
- Auckland, New Zealand. The final T20I was scheduled for Hamilton.
- Why
- New Zealand won the fourth match by 87 runs. India’s choices, including leaving out Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, drew scrutiny.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
India won the first three T20Is against New Zealand.
Sooryavanshi scored 45 as India chased 199 with six wickets in hand.
New Zealand beat India by 87 runs in Auckland, with Glenn Phillips scoring 107 off 49 balls.
Gambhir defended the selection approach, and India left Sooryavanshi out of the playing XI.
- Fourth T20I margin
- New Zealand won by 87 runs
- Series score before final
- India led 3-1
- Sooryavanshi's appearances
- 2
- Sooryavanshi's scores
- 4 and 45
- Phillips's fourth-match score
- 107 off 49 balls
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What people are saying
First of all, my job is not to make everyone happy. My job is to take the right decisions, not the popular decisions. And that is what I'm there for,
It is very easy to take the popular decision. But for me, I think the important thing is to take the right decision and make sure that there is a lot of security inside the dressing room,