R Ashwin sends clear message to Team India on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s batting position

India’s selection for the third T20I of the five‑match series against New Zealand centers on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s role at the top of the order. The team management allowed Sooryavanshi to continue as an opener alongside Abhishek Sharma, while Sanju Samson was deployed at No. 3, a reshuffle that signals a preference for Sooryavanshi’s opening partnership. The decision appears to reflect the management’s assessment of Sooryavanshi’s skills at the start of the innings and the desire to balance aggression with stability in the early overs. R Ashwin, a senior member of the squad, is described as sending a clear message to the team regarding Sooryavanshi’s batting position, underscoring that the opening slot is not a matter of contention and that the team is aiming for consistency in the top order as it eyes the remaining matches of the series. The report situates this moment within the ongoing limited-overs contest with New Zealand, highlighting how tactical choices in the batting lineup are shaping India’s approach in the early part of the innings.