Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Be Dropped? IND vs NZ 3rd T20I Playing 11

By Kaif Ansari - Tuesday, Oct 27, 2026
Last Updated on Oct 27, 2026 10:59 AM

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Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Be Dropped?: The Indian cricket team is currently on a tour of New Zealand, where a thrilling five-match T20 series is underway. Team India has delivered an excellent performance in the first two encounters, securing back-to-back victories and establishing a commanding 2-0 lead in the series.

The third match of the series is scheduled to take place on Tuesday in Wellington. With an eye on winning this match to seal the series, the team management will be keen to ensure there are no lapses or shortcomings in the playing XI. Consequently, some significant changes regarding the team composition and player fitness could be on the cards.

Ishan Kishan Injury Update & Team Concerns Ahead of 3rd T20I

Some unfortunate news has emerged from the Indian camp ahead of the match. Ishan Kishan, one of the team's key explosive batters, has not yet fully recovered. Due to injury or fitness-related issues, he will remain sidelined for the third T20I, forcing the team to make adjustments to their strategy.

Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Be Dropped from the Playing XI?

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In the second T20I, young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was given an opportunity in the playing XI. Instead of opening the innings, he was sent in to bat at the number three position. However, it was not a memorable outing for the 15-year-old, who managed to score only four runs.

The question now arises: will Vaibhav be dropped from the side for the third match? The main reasons for this are as follows:

Lack of a natural batting position: Vaibhav is not getting an opportunity to bat in his preferred and natural opening position; playing in the middle order or at other positions is currently proving challenging for him.
Imbalance in the batting order: His inclusion has necessitated frequent reshuffling of the batting positions of other players in the team.
Need for a finisher: In the last two matches, the team has felt the absence of an effective finisher for the death overs. Consequently, the team management might consider replacing Vaibhav with a player capable of scoring runs quickly in the lower order.

Given this situation, the team might consider including Shivam Dube in the playing eleven. His addition would largely resolve the issue of scoring runs rapidly in the lower order and during the final overs.

Furthermore, Naman Dhir and Nitish Kumar Reddy have all but cemented their spots in the team by playing useful innings in both of the opening matches.