Iyer tells 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to be patient for India chances
India captain Shreyas Iyer said on October 22, 2026 in Christchurch during a press conference ahead of the first T20I at Hagley Oval that 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi must be patient for opportunities in the national side. Iyer warned that the youngster will have to wait his turn because India's current opening options are performing well.
Sooryavanshi, who made his international debut for India in July, has drawn attention for his aggressive batting but has been used sparingly against top opposition despite strong performances in the Indian Premier League. He made his IPL debut in 2025 at the age of 14 years and 23 days and scored his maiden IPL century nine days later. In eight T20 internationals he has scored 246 runs at an average of 30.75 and a strike rate of 186.36, including two half-centuries; his IPL figures stand at an average of 44 and a strike rate of nearly 229.
Speaking at the pre-match media session, Iyer said: "It's important that a talent like him is always happy around the dressing room. And he is very young. He has more years to get opportunities. It's not like he can walk in straight away. Because our openers are also scoring consistently. And they also won the World Cup."
Iyer added that the current tour of New Zealand will give Sooryavanshi useful experience in unfamiliar conditions, saying: "So, if you see, when he is coming overseas, he will get a fair idea of how to play on these particular wickets. So, next time whenever he comes in these conditions, he will be very well prepared. And he will also get motivation to come here and make runs. And he can also instruct other youngsters who will come for the first time." India arrived in New Zealand on Tuesday (October 20) for a 40-day tour featuring five T20Is, five one-day internationals and two Test matches, and the tour also marks 100 years of sporting ties between the two countries.
India have recalled experienced seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar after a four-year absence from the T20I side, while pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been rested as part of workload management following his involvement in India's Asian Games gold-medal-winning campaign in Japan. With Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma also contributing at the top — Samson averaging 25 at a strike rate of 172 since July and Abhishek averaging 30 at a strike rate of 200 — Sooryavanshi is among the options available to India as they prepare to face New Zealand in conditions that could offer opportunities for aggressive strokeplay.
New Zealand will be without Will O'Rourke, Mark Chapman and Zak Foulkes for the T20I series, with Josh Clarkson and Blair Tickner brought into the squad as replacements for Chapman and Foulkes. The hosts will look to Finn Allen and Tim Seifert to provide explosive starts as they prepare to take on the reigning T20 world champions.
A photograph published with the coverage showed India's Vaibhav Sooryavanshi at the pavilion after a rain-delayed toss for the fifth T20I of a series between India and West Indies in Bengaluru on October 17, 2026; Photo Credit: PTI.
The five-match T20I series begins at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Thursday, with Sooryavanshi available among the selection options for India.
