"Instead of Suryavanshi, India can play Varun Chakaravarthy" - Former CSK batter's massive remark on playing 11 for NZ vs IND 2026 3rd T20I

Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Subramaniam Badrinath believes Team India should play Varun Chakaravarthy as an extra bowling option instead of Vaibhav Suryavanshi at No.3 in the third T20I against New Zealand. With Ishan Kishan out due to injury in the second T20I, the Men in Blue included Suryavanshi in the lineup.

However, the youngster batted out of position at one-drop, falling for only four off eight deliveries. Suryavanshi’s presence, though, helped India extend their batting to No.8, as they chased down 181 to take a 2-0 series lead.

Talking about Vaibhav Suryavanshi batting at No.3, Badrinath said on his YouTube channel, Cric it with Badri (3:00):

"Instead of playing Suryavanshi at No.3, India can play Varun Chakaravarthy in the 11. The players down the order are doing well now. So, why not go for a bowler like Varun? New Zealand's scores of 220 and 180 could have been 200 and 160 in the first two games."

Suryavanshi had missed India's previous six T20Is before the second New Zealand T20I, with India opting for Sanju Samson and Abhishek at the top. Meanwhile, Varun hasn't played for India since sustaining an abdominal side strain during the T20I series against Afghanistan last month.

"It's unfair to Sanju Samson if he has to sacrifice his opening spot" - S Badrinath

Subramaniam Badrinath opposed Sanju Samson sacrificing his opening spot for Vaibhav Suryavanshi to bat at the top. The former has batted in the middle order in T20Is and at one-drop for his old IPL franchise, Rajasthan Royals (RR).

"It's unfair to Sanju Samson if he has to sacrifice his opening spot for Suryavanshi. Yes, Suryavanshi has thrived only as an opener, but Samson is doing brilliantly as an opener. Though Samson has done well for Rajasthan Royals at No.3, I think Suryavanshi needs to wait. The position is more important than the player. I definitely will not disrupt Sanju Samson," said Badrinath (via the aforementioned source).

After a series of low scores, Samson is back in form with half-centuries in three of his last six T20I innings.

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