Shreyas Iyer discusses Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's limited chances and Bhuvneshwar Kumar's return ahead of NZ series
India captain Shreyas Iyer, speaking in Christchurch ahead of the opening match of the five-match T20I series against New Zealand on October 22, 2026, addressed questions over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s limited opportunities and the recall of pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar to the squad.
India arrive for the five-match T20I tour after a 2-2 draw with the West Indies in their most recent T20I series, the final match in Bengaluru having been washed out; the side aim to start the New Zealand tour with a win and to adapt quickly to local conditions. The first encounter is scheduled for October 22 in Christchurch, offering another chance for the team to assess combinations and players.
Iyer explained that the 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi faces limited openings because Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson remain the preferred opening pair. “It’s important that a talent like him should always be happy around the dressing room. He is very young; he has more years to get opportunities. It’s not like he can walk in right now, because our openers are scoring consistently, and they have won the World Cup,” Iyer said.
On Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s recall after nearly four years away from the national side, Iyer highlighted the value of experience in an attack that has absorbed a number of new faces following the IPL. “Bhuvi definitely brings a lot of experience to the team. We were lacking that a little, especially after the IPL. We had a lot of new bowlers,” Iyer said.
Iyer also pointed to Bhuvneshwar’s recent success in the IPL as a reason for his selection. “If you see Bhuvi’s career graph in the last two years, he’s won the IPL also, so he knows very well how to dominate this format,” he added. The captain noted Bhuvneshwar played a key role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s back-to-back IPL titles in 2025 and 2026 and that he took 28 wickets in 16 matches in the 2026 season.
Iyer said Bhuvneshwar’s presence gives India an additional pace option and increases competition for places, forcing selection choices for the playing XI. “It’s good in a way, and it motivates the current team members that we have to consistently perform for the team. The most important thing is to win the match. That is the eventual goal. So, I just want to say that it’s a sweet headache,” he said.
India’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand begins on October 22, 2026, with the first match in Christchurch, providing the team with a scheduled opportunity to test players and finalise combinations across the tour.