Dropped Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, brought back Ishan Kishan: Team India's call backfires
toi
newspoint|30-10-2026
NEW DELHI: India's decision to leave out 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and bring back Ishan Kishan did not go as planned in the fourth T20I against New Zealand at the Eden Park in Auckland. Kishan, who returned after recovering from a groin injury, was dismissed for a duck in the very first over.
New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy struck twice in the opening over, sending both Sanju Samson and Kishan back to the pavilion. India's decision to drop Sooryavanshi, who scored 45 in the previous match, quickly came under the spotlight.
The move to bring back Kishan was expected to strengthen India's batting. However, the wicketkeeper-batter failed to make an impact on his return.
Ishan's return ends in disappointment
Kishan had missed India's last two T20Is after suffering a low-grade right adductor (groin) strain. His recovery meant he was brought back into the playing XI for the fourth match.
However, his comeback lasted just three balls. Duffy bowled a good-length delivery, and Kishan tried to help it along while sitting down. The ball took the toe-end of his bat and went straight back to the bowler, who completed a simple return catch.
India were in early trouble after losing both Samson (4) and Kishan (0) in the opening over.
Glenn Phillips powers New Zealand to 257
Earlier, Glenn Phillips produced a stunning batting performance to help New Zealand post a massive 257 for seven in the fourth T20I at Eden Park on Friday.
Phillips smashed 107 off just 49 balls, hitting six fours and 10 sixes. Michael Bracewell also played a superb innings, scoring 65 off 25 deliveries.
New Zealand's total was the highest-ever T20I score at Eden Park.
For India, Mayank Yadav was the leading wicket-taker with figures of 3/48 in his four overs. Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Axar Patel and Nitish Kumar Reddy picked up one wicket each.
India make two changes
India made two changes to their playing XI for the fourth T20I. Ishan replaced Sooryavanshi, while Mayank Yadav came in for Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Sooryavanshi had scored 45 in the previous match but was left out despite his promising performance. Bhuvneshwar also missed out after struggling to make an impact since his return to the Indian team.
India had already taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. They were looking to continue their winning run and complete a clean sweep against the hosts.
New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy struck twice in the opening over, sending both Sanju Samson and Kishan back to the pavilion. India's decision to drop Sooryavanshi, who scored 45 in the previous match, quickly came under the spotlight.
The move to bring back Kishan was expected to strengthen India's batting. However, the wicketkeeper-batter failed to make an impact on his return.
Ishan's return ends in disappointment
Kishan had missed India's last two T20Is after suffering a low-grade right adductor (groin) strain. His recovery meant he was brought back into the playing XI for the fourth match.
However, his comeback lasted just three balls. Duffy bowled a good-length delivery, and Kishan tried to help it along while sitting down. The ball took the toe-end of his bat and went straight back to the bowler, who completed a simple return catch.
India were in early trouble after losing both Samson (4) and Kishan (0) in the opening over.
Glenn Phillips powers New Zealand to 257
Earlier, Glenn Phillips produced a stunning batting performance to help New Zealand post a massive 257 for seven in the fourth T20I at Eden Park on Friday.
Phillips smashed 107 off just 49 balls, hitting six fours and 10 sixes. Michael Bracewell also played a superb innings, scoring 65 off 25 deliveries.
New Zealand's total was the highest-ever T20I score at Eden Park.
For India, Mayank Yadav was the leading wicket-taker with figures of 3/48 in his four overs. Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Axar Patel and Nitish Kumar Reddy picked up one wicket each.
India make two changes
India made two changes to their playing XI for the fourth T20I. Ishan replaced Sooryavanshi, while Mayank Yadav came in for Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Sooryavanshi had scored 45 in the previous match but was left out despite his promising performance. Bhuvneshwar also missed out after struggling to make an impact since his return to the Indian team.
India had already taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. They were looking to continue their winning run and complete a clean sweep against the hosts.
Related News
Latest Newsmore
135 Runs Off 36 Balls! Australian Batters Unleash Six-Hitting Storm
30-Oct-2026 • Shivam Sharma
SA vs AUS, 3rd Test Day 3 — Lyon bowls Bavuma late and Australia tightens grip in series decider
30-Oct-2026 • Samira Vishwas
WPL 2027 auction: Full list of unsold players with their base prices ft. Chamari Athapaththu
30-Oct-2026 • Sandy Verma
Who is Uma Kashvi? The youngest player to be signed in WPL history
30-Oct-2026 • Sandy Verma
Kochi's WPL auction showed that teams have now become 'sensible': 10 special and amazing facts of the auction
30-Oct-2026 • Samira Vishwas