India captain Shreyas Iyer has urged patience for teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, saying the 15-year-old “can’t just walk straight into the team” despite growing calls for him to play in the T20 series against New Zealand. The series starts in Christchurch this week.
Iyer made the comments on Wednesday. Sooryavanshi made his international debut for India in July but has been used sparingly against top opponents, even though he has been in glittering form in the Indian Premier League. India landed in New Zealand on Tuesday, two days before a 40-day tour that includes five T20s, five one-day internationals and two Test matches. The tour marks 100 years of sporting ties between the two nations.
Iyer says the teenager has time on his side
Asked about Sooryavanshi’s role in the squad, Iyer said: “He has many more years ahead to get opportunities.” He added that India’s openers had been scoring consistently and had also won the World Cup, so the teenager could not simply step into the side.
Iyer also said Sooryavanshi would learn plenty from the tour, whether or not he gets game time. He said the trip would give the youngster a fair idea of how the game plays on these wickets, so he would be better prepared for these conditions next time.
Sooryavanshi’s record against rivals for the opening spot
Sooryavanshi made his IPL debut aged 14 years and 23 days in 2025 and scored his first IPL century nine days later. His form has been less striking at international level. In eight T20 internationals he is averaging just over 30 at a strike rate of 186, below his IPL average of 44 and a strike rate of nearly 229.
Since July, his rivals for India’s opening spot, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, have averaged 25 and 30 respectively. Their strike rates are 172 and 200.
Santner on India’s lineup and New Zealand’s conditions
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said he was aware of Sooryavanshi’s talents from playing against him in the IPL. However, he pointed to the strength of India’s whole lineup. “I think he has a huge part to play for India, whether it’s in this series or in the future,” Santner said.
Santner said the conditions for the opening match at Hagley Oval would be seam friendly. He added that India would have to adjust to unfamiliar conditions, noting that the weather could turn cold and windy after the heat and humidity they usually face in India.
Team changes ahead of the opening match
New Zealand are without Will O’Rourke, Mark Chapman and Zak Foulkes for the T20 series. They will rely on the power hitting of Finn Allen and Tim Seifert at the top of the order.
India have recalled seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar after a four-year absence. Jasprit Bumrah has been rested as part of workload management, after playing a key part in the team’s recent Asian Games gold medal in Japan.
