Subramaniam Badrinath urges India to drop Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for Varun Chakaravarthy in third T20I

Former India batter Subramaniam Badrinath said India should consider playing Varun Chakaravarthy instead of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for the third T20I against New Zealand in Wellington on Tuesday. Badrinath argued that the lower order has contributed with the bat and that an extra specialist bowler would strengthen the attack. Sooryavanshi scored four off eight balls at number three in the second T20I after replacing the injured Ishan Kishan.

Badrinath also questioned the idea of moving Sanju Samson from his preferred opening position to accommodate Sooryavanshi at the top. He said Samson's current form should take precedence over the teenager's need for game time. Varun has been out of the T20I side since suffering an abdominal strain during last month's series against Afghanistan.

India lead the five-match series 2-0 and can seal the series with a win in Wellington. The conditions at the venue are expected to present a different challenge, with strong winds forecast.