‘If you want to fit Vaibhav’: Ex-cricketer's message to Gambhir on Sooryavanshi

Former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik believes Abhishek Sharma should be rested rather than Sanju Samson being dropped again if India want to bring teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi back into the playing XI for the fifth and final T20I against New Zealand.

Sooryavanshi missed the fourth T20I in Auckland after Ishan Kishan recovered from the injury that had ruled him out of the previous two matches. The youngster had made an impression in his last appearance, smashing 45 off just 19 balls in the third T20I in Wellington, but did not feature in Friday's match despite India having already secured the series.

Karthik feels Samson should not repeatedly be the one making way whenever India look to accommodate Sooryavanshi. Speaking on Cricbuzz, he suggested giving Abhishek a break instead.

"I know the world will want Vaibhav to play. If they want to play Vaibhav, it has got to be in place of Abhishek, to give him a break, and that is how it should be. Every time there is anything related to Vaibhav, it is always Sanju. If you want to really fit in Vaibhav, Abhishek can take a break. The key word here is break," Karthik said.

Samson started the series on a strong note, scoring a match-winning 67 off 33 balls in Christchurch to claim the Player of the Match award. However, he managed scores of 14 and 18 in the following two matches. He was also moved to No. 3 in the third T20I to make room for Sooryavanshi.

The debate over India's batting combination comes after their 87-run defeat in the fourth T20I. New Zealand posted a formidable 259/7, courtesy of Glenn Phillips' 107 off 49 balls, before Jacob Duffy's four-wicket haul helped restrict India to 172/9.

India have already clinched the five-match series 3-1, with the final T20I offering another opportunity to assess their combinations ahead of the next assignment.