Vaibhav Sooryavanshi omitted as Ishan Kishan returns for 4th T20I in Auckland

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was left out of India’s playing XI for the fourth T20I against New Zealand in Auckland on October 30 after Ishan Kishan returned to fitness following a low-grade right adductor strain. India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl.

India made two changes for the match: Ishan Kishan replaced Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Mayank Yadav returned to the XI in place of Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Sooryavanshi had featured in the second and third T20Is as a replacement for Kishan while the wicketkeeper-batter was unavailable. With Kishan fit and available for selection, he is expected to bat at three with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson taking the opening slots.

India’s selected XI is: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav.

India won the first three matches and secured the T20I series; the visitors have been impressive with both bat and ball and have managed to dominate the hosts throughout the series. India will now look to continue their winning run in the remaining matches.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will have to wait for another opportunity in the ongoing series. Kishan’s return gives India another experienced option at the top of the batting order.

New Zealand will aim to bounce back and register their first victory of the series. The fourth T20I also gives the hosts another opportunity to test themselves against India’s aggressive batting approach.