India face New Zealand in the fifth and final T20I of their series on Saturday, October 31, 2026, with the hosts holding a 3-1 lead in the five-match contest. The match presents a selection challenge centred on accommodating two wicketkeeper-batters in the line-up, as Sanju Samson and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi compete for opportunities in the opening role.
Dinesh Karthik has offered a strategic solution to the selection puzzle. The former India wicketkeeper-batter suggested that both players can feature in the same XI through a rotation approach that involves resting other squad members. Speaking on the matter, Karthik outlined his preferred approach to the bowling unit and the batting order.
“Because it is a game where we have won the series, I wouldn’t mind holding on to Axar and letting go of one of the pacers. I would go down the route of giving Arshdeep a break and using Mayank and Prince. Arshdeep has been outstanding as usual. He has been our best bowler in the series, and there is no harm in sitting him down to see what a spinner can do in these conditions,” Karthik said on Cricbuzz.
Samson and Abhishek Sharma have both played in every match of the series so far. Sooryavanshi entered the squad after Ishan Kishan sustained an injury that ruled him out of the second and third T20Is. With Kishan now fit and available, Sooryavanshi was dropped for the fourth match.
Karthik addressed the specific question of how to include Sooryavanshi without compromising the balance of the side. He emphasised that any inclusion of the young opener must come at the expense of a player receiving a rest day rather than a permanent change to the XI. The former wicketkeeper-batter stressed the importance of squad rotation and player management in the final match of the series.
“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 really want to fit in Vaibhav, Abhishek can take a break. The key word here is ‘break’,” Karthik said.
