India will face New Zealand for the fifth T20I of the five-match series on November 1 Sunday. The visitors have already sealed the series with a 3-1 lead and could use the final match to experiment with their playing XI.
One of the biggest selection questions is whether India can accommodate both Sanju Samson and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the same team. Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has suggested a way to include the young opener without making a major change to the team’s batting combination.
Dinesh Karthik Suggests Resting Arshdeep Singh
Karthik believes India should use the final T20I to give some players a break and test their bench strength. He suggested resting Arshdeep Singh, who has been India’s standout bowler in the series, and giving opportunities to Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav.
He also backed Axar Patel’s inclusion, saying India could use the final match to see how another spinner performs in the given conditions.
Karthik Explains How India Can Accommodate Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
The other selection question revolves around Sooryavanshi and Samson. While Samson and Abhishek Sharma have featured in all four matches, Sooryavanshi got his opportunity after Ishan Kishan was ruled out of the second and third T20Is due to injury.
However, Kishan’s return to fitness meant Sooryavanshi missed the fourth T20I.
Karthik believes India should not look at Sooryavanshi’s inclusion as a direct competition with Samson. Instead, he suggested resting Abhishek Sharma if the team management wants to give the young left-hander another opportunity.
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