“That’s where Suryavanshi has to watch out” - Former India captain’s massive remark after NZ vs IND 2026 3rd T20I

Former India captain Kris Srikkanth says Vaibhav Suryavanshi must be more patient against unfamiliar bowlers, after the teenager fell to New Zealand newcomer Matthew Fisher in the third T20I in Wellington.

Suryavanshi had struck 45 off 19 balls when Mitchell Santner handed Fisher the ball at the start of the eighth over. The opener went for a slog over long-on off the first ball, mistimed it, and was caught by Daryl Mitchell.

Talking about Suryavanshi's dismissal on his YouTube channel, Cheeky Cheeka, Srikkanth said:

"Unfortunately, he got out to a rookie in Fisher. That’s where Suryavanshi has to watch out a little bit. He shouldn’t immediately take on a new bowler. He should just see what the bowler is doing for two balls. After that, if he plays a similar shot, it will be a six."

Srikkanth further praised Suryavanshi, saying:

"He should keep playing once every three matches like this in rotation. You just keep his feet going. He’s going to be the future superstar. When he’s smashing it like this at 15, think of how much he’ll smash it at 21 once he’s experienced. He could have scored a half-century. He hits it everywhere and plays with such courage."

Suryavanshi took a boundary off the first ball of the chase and a six off the third as India plundered 26 from Jacob Duffy’s opening over. He finished with four fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 236.84, and India reached 118 without loss in the powerplay, the highest six-over score in men’s T20Is.

"These two batted like it was cork-ball cricket" - Kris Srikkanth hails the Abhishek Sharma-Vaibhav Suryavanshi partnership

Kris Srikkanth praised the Abhishek Sharma-Vaibhav Suryavanshi opening partnership that took the game away from New Zealand in the third T20I. Abhishek Sharma made 113 off 38 balls at the other end, his fourth T20I hundred, from 35 deliveries.

The duo added 133 for the opening wicket off only 43 balls.

"This was like cork-ball cricket where the ball flies off the bat. These two batted like it was cork-ball cricket. When two guys are batting like this, what can the opposition do? I almost felt bad for the New Zealand bowlers. They didn’t understand what was going on. Santner didn’t even come to bowl because it was two left-handers. He was like, ‘Leave me alone’ from this carnage," said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).

He added:

"The choice of shot-making from both was exceptional. The New Zealand bowlers were scared when they ran in to bowl to these two. These two intimidated the Kiwi bowlers. They turned Duffy and Milne into nobodies. This was like highlights on top of another highlights. They also manufactured some fantastic shots, especially Suryavanshi."

India chased 199 in 13.2 overs to win by six wickets with 40 balls to spare and lead the five-match series 3-0.

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