India’s Playing XI vs New Zealand by Suryakumar Yadav: IND vs NZ: Ishan Kishan will bat at number three, what will happen to Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav told everything

Nagpur: Ishan Kishan will come to bat at number three in the first match of the five-match T20 series against New Zealand starting from January 21. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed this on the eve of the match. Surya told that Isha Kishan will get a chance before Shreyas Iyer because he is a part of India’s T20 World Cup team and the team management wants to see him fit into the role of injured Tilak Verma.

Tilak Verma is also left handed and usually plays at number three. Recently he has undergone stomach surgery and has been out for the first three matches. This is the reason why Shreyas Iyer has got a chance to return to the team. However, captain Suryakumar Yadav also made it clear that Iyer is being considered for number 5. He said:

Ishaan will bat at number 3 because he is part of our T20 World Cup team and was selected in the team earlier, so it is our responsibility to give him a chance. He has not played for India for the last one and a half years and has consistently performed well in domestic cricket during this period. Since Ishan has been selected for the World T20, he deserves to play before Shreyas. If it was about number 4 or 5, the question would have been different. Unfortunately Tilak is not there, so Ishaan is the best option.

Ishaan will bat only at number three
T-20 World Cup will start from 7th February. India and Sri Lanka will host it. When asked whether he himself would bat at number 3, where he has had a lot of success, the captain said that he would like to remain flexible. He said:

I have batted in both positions for India. My stats at number 4 are a little better though at number 3 are also good. But we have flexibility in this. We will see if there is a need to send a right hander (if Sanju Samson is out) then I will go otherwise Tilak was doing well at number three.

What did Suryakumar say on his poor form?
Suryakumar’s form has been poor in 2025 with an average of less than 15 and a strike rate of 113, but he does not want to make any changes in his batting. He said, ‘I have not been able to score runs. But I can’t change my identity. I have decided to continue doing what I have done in the last three-four years, which has brought me a lot of success. If the performance comes then it is fine, if not then I will work hard again. I am batting in the nets like I always do.