Teen Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Bats at No 3, Scores Four before Dismissal in India vs New Zealand T20I

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the 15‑year‑old who returned to the Indian side for the second T20I against New Zealand, batted at No 3 for the first time in his brief career and was out for four runs from eight balls. He entered the innings after India’s opening pair, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, had put on a 40‑run stand, and he replaced the injured Ishan Kishan, who missed the first match. New Zealand posted 180/5, with Matt Henry opening the bowling and Jacob Duffy taking early wickets. Samson fell for 14 off 17 balls to Duffy in the fifth over, prompting Sooryavanshi’s debut at the middle order. The teenager survived an early chance when Duffy dropped a simple catch on his second delivery, then attempted a few big shots before Nathan Smith claimed his wicket on the second ball of the seventh over. The pitch, the same used in the first T20I, proved less friendly to batters than recent home white‑ball games, a factor that may have contributed to Sooryavanshi’s struggle. Despite the early wicket, India’s openers had already set a steady platform before the teenager’s brief cameo.

Context

India’s top‑order pairing of Samson and Sharma has been a key factor in recent home T20Is, often providing solid starts. Sooryavanshi’s promotion to No 3 reflects the team’s willingness to give young talent exposure when senior players are unavailable. New Zealand’s 180/5 remains a challenging target on a pitch that has offered less bounce than earlier matches.