Ishan Kishan ruled out of match against New Zealand due to injury; Vaibha Suryavanshi to get chance in next T20I

In the four T20 matches of the series between India and West Indies, which concluded on Wednesday (October 14) with India losing by 24 runs and the series tied at 2-2, the fifth and decisive match will take place in Bangalore on Saturday (October 17). This match will determine the winner of the series.

However, throughout the first four encounters of this T20 series between India and West Indies, Vaibha Suryavanshi was not in the starting lineup, although he was often present with the team during water breaks. This raised several questions regarding the reasons for his absence from the squad. He is likely to be on the bench again in the fifth T20 in Bangalore.

Vaibha's international career began on July 4, 2026, in Manchester against England in a T20, although he had previously participated in the tour of Ireland but did not receive playing time. To date, Vaibha has played 8 T20 matches, scoring 246 runs at an average of 30.75.

However, one statistic emerged: under Gautam Gambhir's leadership, Vaibha was given less playing time than when VVS Laxman served as the head coach of the Indian team.

Vaibha was first selected for the tour of Ireland, where two matches were held, both lost by the Indian team, but he did not play. His debut occurred in the second match of the five-match series on the tour of England. England won this series 4-0, and the first T20 in Chester-Le-Street was a draw.

During the tour of England, Vaibha played in three T20 matches in Manchester, Nottingham, and Bristol, scoring 42 runs at an average of 14. His strike rate was 168.

Next followed the tour of Zimbabwe, where Sandeep Samson was not part of the squad. Consequently, Vaibha was given the opportunity to start alongside Abhishek Sharma. In this series, Vaibha made a splash, becoming the 'Player of the Series' and scoring 151 runs in three matches at an average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 196.10. It is worth noting that for this tour in July 202, former Indian player VVS Laxman was appointed as the head coach of the Indian team.

This was followed by a three-match T20 series at home against Afghanistan, in which Vaibha Suryavanshi did not participate in any match. Then came a T20 international match against Japan, where Vaibha also did not play, and VVS Laxman was the head coach then.

Subsequently, the Asian Games 2026 took place, where the quarter-final against Afghanistan was cancelled. After this, India defeated Sri Lanka and then Pakistan in the semi-finals and final, winning the gold medal. Against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, Vaibha played, scoring 38 and 15 runs respectively.

Thus, since Vaibha was included in the Indian squad, the team has played 21 matches. Gautam Gambhir acted as coach in 14 matches, while VVS Laxman coached in 7 matches. Including the T20 in Bangalore on Saturday, the total number of T20s in which Vaibha will be in the squad will reach 22.

The question arises as to how long Sanju Samson can remain in the team, especially against the backdrop of Vaibhav Suryavanshi's potential emergence. In the current T20 series against West Indies, Sanju scored 11, 82, and 3 runs. Although his innings of 82 runs in Ranchi cannot be ignored, the details of that game also warrant consideration.

During this innings, he missed a chance for a catch worth 6 runs, and a second opportunity was given to him at 42 runs. This means the opponent gave him two chances. A natural question arises: should his spot in the national team be based solely on one big innings and two such opportunities?

This question becomes even more relevant because there is a young batter in the team who has attracted global attention due to his explosive style—Vaibhav Suryavanshi. However, while Vaibhav is being given opportunities, Sanju continues to receive consistent chances. Three out of five planned matches in the series have passed. Only two matches remain, leading to the necessity of deciding: will the team management continue testing Sanju or dare to field Vaibhav?

Sanju's innings of 82 runs cannot be overlooked. Nevertheless, a player's assessment should not be based exclusively on his best performance. In T20 cricket, the true test lies in consistency. Sanju showed fluctuations across three innings: 11 runs in the first match, 82 in the second, and only 3 in the third. These ups and downs once again raise the long-standing question of his career: can Sanju turn his talent into consistent results?

The mention of two chances in Ranchi is significant, as batters are not always afforded such opportunities at a high level. If he had taken the catch, would his 82-run innings have been achieved? There is no definitive answer to this. But these points must be considered when evaluating his game. Scoring runs is good, but decisions cannot be made by looking only at the scorecard, forgetting the opportunities provided.

On the other hand, Vaibhav Suryavanshi is a talent that has received worldwide acclaim, yet he has to wait his turn in the Indian squad. What is a greater contradiction for a young player than being kept on the bench even after being selected for the team? Vaibhav impressed strong bowlers with his aggressive style, but he has failed to prove himself in international cricket. If the team management selected him, it means they believed in his abilities. So why refuse to test that trust? How many more attempts are needed to give Vaibhav a chance?

From an early age, Vaibhav Suryavanshi challenged strong bowlers with his batting. His fearless approach earned him particular recognition. Undoubtedly, there is a difference between IPL pressure and international cricket. Vaibhav will also have to prove his worth in the Indian team format. But how will his real test go if he is not allowed to take the field? Talent is tested not by what is kept on the bench, but by what is brought onto the field. How justified is it to pass judgment on him without giving him a chance?

Only two matches remain in the series. This is the moment when the team management must make decisions focused on the future. If they want to give Vaibhav a chance, why not do it now? Will they wait for another big innings from Sanju? And if Sanju cannot score consistently, is it fair to continue playing him based only on past achievements?

Sanju's average in T20 internationals has dropped below 27. This figure alone does not reveal the player's entire story, but when there is a large disparity between bad and good innings, the need to ask questions arises. A place in the Indian team cannot be permanent property of anyone. Here, results, team needs, and future plans must be equally considered.

The demand to drop Sanju does not mean he lacks talent; his talent is not in question. The question is about the results that this talent brings. How long will a spot be given based on hope? How long will one big innings hide previous failures? And how long will the decision to give another player a chance be postponed?

Now the picture is clear. The team management has a choice in the remaining two matches of the series against West Indies. They can give Sanju another chance, demonstrating confidence in his form, or field Vaibhav to see what the young batter can do at the international level.

However, this decision is not just about fielding one player or benching another. It is a matter of the entire team's mindset. Is India striving to prepare new options for the future, or will it be stuck on re-testing old options?

Sanju fully has the right to fight for his place, but Vaibhav also has the right to a chance. Sanju's failure itself does not guarantee Vaibhav's success, but denying Vaibhav a chance is stopping his trial before it even begins.

In the second T20 match held in Ranchi, Shai Hope, captain of the West Indies team, achieved a historic feat by leading his team to victory through incredible play. West Indies defeated India by six wickets, successfully chasing a record score, and leveled the series at 1-1 in the five-match series.

The main hero of this match was West Indies captain Shai Hope. He created history by scoring 102 not out runs in just 45 balls. Prior to this, the Indian team had set a formidable target of 250 runs.

When West Indies came out to chase such a large target, the start was not ideal: three players were dismissed for only 58 runs. It seemed the match would once again be in India's hands, but captain Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford took control.

These two players formed a powerful partnership, scoring 120 runs for the fourth wicket. Sherfane Rutherford demonstrated a destructive performance, scoring 84 runs off just 37 balls. Captain Shai Hope, using nine high sixes, scored 102 not out runs, making West Indies one of the most successful chasers in the history of T20 international matches.

Attention on the IPL Auction

After the game, teammate Roston Chase highly praised Shai Hope's performance. Chase noted that people often underestimate Shai Hope and criticize his slow tempo, but he knows how to remain composed on the field. He added that Hope has worked extensively on his strength and ability to hit far zones over the past few years, and the results of this work are evident on the field.

Shai Hope last showcased his talent in the IPL during the 2024 season for Delhi Capitals. Although he stepped away from the league after that, his record century against India has once again attracted the attention of franchise teams ahead of the IPL mini-auction in December. Now Shai Hope has a chance to change his destiny and be bought for millions of rupees.