The India–New Zealand series has taken the excitement to another level. These were the two World Cup finalists, so a fierce contest was expected. Both teams have the quality to challenge each other, and the 3–1 scoreline does not tell the full story.
The first two matches were extremely close. India then dominated the third before New Zealand hit back with a one-sided victory in the fourth. Without heavy dew and dropped catches in the opening games, the series could have looked very different.
But before the fifth T20I, one question stands above the rest: will the highly talented Vaibhav Sooryavanshi finally get another opportunity, or will India continue with Sanju Samson?
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi or Sanju Samson for the 5th T20I?
India’s handling of Vaibhav has been frustrating. A young batter cannot build a settled place if strong performances keep being followed by spells on the bench.
He has already delivered a Player-of-the-Series campaign, yet opportunities have not consistently followed. Leaving him out on good batting surfaces makes that treatment even harder to understand.
Against New Zealand, he showed exactly what his partnership with Abhishek Sharma could offer. Their explosive opening stand in Wellington put the bowling attack under immediate pressure and helped India seal the series.
Then Vaibhav was dropped for the fourth T20I.
What more does a young batter need to do to earn a proper run? Performing when selected should strengthen his position. Instead, he finds himself waiting again.
Samson’s inconsistency makes the selection debate unavoidable. His ability is clear, but India need regular contributions rather than performances that depend too heavily on favourable batting conditions.
That brings the discussion back to the same choice: should India persist with Samson, or restore Vaibhav to the opening combination?
Ishan Kishan Taking the Gloves Is the Big Hint
The strongest indication came from India’s wicketkeeping decision in the fourth T20I.
Ishan Kishan returned from injury and took the gloves, even though Samson was also in the playing XI. That change matters because Samson’s wicketkeeping role usually gives him another reason to remain in the side.
With Kishan keeping, India can leave Samson out without needing to find another wicketkeeper. It creates a straightforward route for Vaibhav to return.
Kishan’s return from injury makes the decision particularly interesting. India did not merely bring him back as a batter while allowing Samson to continue behind the stumps. They handed Kishan the wicketkeeping responsibility as well.
That is why this looks like a significant selection hint. India have already put the arrangement in place that would allow Vaibhav to replace Samson.
It does not announce the playing XI, but it makes the possibility much stronger than a discussion based only on Samson’s latest batting failure.
A Familiar Wicketkeeping Change Before the World Cup
There was a similar switch during the New Zealand series before the T20 World Cup.
Samson kept wickets through the first four matches, but Kishan took the gloves in the fifth. With Kishan also making a strong batting case, the change brought Samson’s position into sharper focus.
The important similarity is the flexibility it gives the team. Once Kishan takes responsibility behind the stumps, Samson has to hold his place through his batting rather than wicketkeeping providing an additional advantage.
The fourth T20I on the current tour has created that situation again. India can now bring Vaibhav back while keeping Kishan in the side as their wicketkeeper.
Vaibhav Deserves More Than Another Wait
The argument for Vaibhav is about rewarding performance and building a dangerous opening partnership.
He and Abhishek have already shown how quickly they can take a match away from the opposition. Breaking that combination immediately after such a commanding display raises serious questions about the backing being given to him.
There is still a reason Samson could survive. Gautam Gambhir has backed him, and that support may influence the final decision.
But backing one player should not mean repeatedly denying another a fair opportunity after he has performed. Vaibhav needs a clear role and enough matches to establish himself.
The wicketkeeping switch makes his return a strong possibility for the fifth T20I. If Samson keeps his place and fails again, the case for starting the next series with Vaibhav will become even harder to ignore.