Sooryavanshi recalled as India and New Zealand prepare for another high-scoring T20I in Christchurch
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been drafted into India's playing XI for the second T20I against New Zealand in Christchurch on Saturday, stepping in after Ishan Kishan's injury opened a spot in the side.
Fans pushed for Sooryavanshi after his benching during recent home series, and the youngster's recall comes amid encouragement from India's management; coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shreyas Iyer have sheltered him from selection pressure while the team balanced his development with match readiness. "I was walking down the river yesterday, and a few Kiwi fans asked me, 'Is the 15-year-old kid playing tomorrow?'. He's warmed the bench long enough; you don't wanna lose his form," were the words reportedly spoken by Ravi Shastri during the first T20I. Sooryavanshi, described in the report as a 15-year-old, has scored 246 runs in eight T20Is at an average of 30.75 and a strike-rate of 186.36.
The first game of the series set the tone for another high-scoring encounter: India chased 226 and were 93 without loss at the end of the powerplay. Given that start, Sooryavanshi's aggressive approach is viewed as fitting for the visitors' strategy, with expectations that he will contribute significantly to the chase.
Indian management has urged caution around the hype surrounding the teenager. "He is very talented and has a bright, bright future ahead. He will learn a lot of things once he starts playing. But, initially, I felt there was a lot of hype about (his spot in 11)," Sitanshu Kothak said. He added: "I genuinely felt it is not good for the player also. For a young 15-16 years old boy, everyone is saying that he should play and he is not getting the space. He is too young. It is sad and it is sad for other players also who are performing. People related to cricket, they should think about it. Whether they are actually helping, or just to create something, they are doing something."
New Zealand's batting lineup showed firepower in the opener, with opening partners Finn Allen and Tim Seifert applying early pressure and Glenn Phillips hitting 82 off 40 balls; Bevon Jacobs also provided a useful cameo. The report flags Daryl Mitchell's current form as a concern for New Zealand and notes that Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell helped turn the contest after early setbacks.
Selection and match-up considerations are likely to shape the top of India's order: with Sooryavanshi expected to replace Kishan, India could open with Abhishek Sharma and Sooryavanshi and move Sanju Samson to No.3 — an arrangement previously used when all three were available. New Zealand may deploy off-spin from Michael Bracewell or Glenn Phillips during the powerplay to test India's left-handed start; the piece notes India have struggled against that match-up before, including in the opening phase of the T20 World Cup earlier this year. Apart from the top-order change, India are not expected to alter their batting order significantly, though Axar Patel could be promoted if the team needs a batter adept at countering spin in the middle overs.
Conditions in Christchurch could influence tactical decisions: dew is cited as a potential factor for Saturday's game and the remaining matches of the series, which is likely to affect the toss with captains expected to prefer bowling first. The second T20I will be played on the same pitch used in the opening match, so any wear from that game could change the surface's behaviour, and the forecast calls for clear skies in the daytime with temperatures falling into the low teens by the time play begins.
India: Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson (wk), Shreyas Iyer (capt), Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Mayank Yadav
New Zealand: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Bevon Jacobs, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (capt), Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Lockie Ferguson
All games in the series are scheduled for an 8pm start.