Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could face a very different challenge when India travels to New Zealand for a five-match T20I series in October, with Blackcaps head coach Rob Walter eager to see how the teenager handles conditions traditionally associated with pace and bounce.
The 15-year-old has already made an impact across several levels of the game. He has scored centuries in England, Australia and South Africa, while his performances for Rajasthan Royals have established him as one of the most exciting young batters in T20 cricket.
His India career, however, has been quieter so far. Sooryavanshi made his T20I debut in July but is still waiting for another appearance. He was part of India’s squad for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan but did not feature in any of the games. He was also on the bench for the one-off T20I against Japan.
India’s squad for the New Zealand tour is yet to be announced, although Sooryavanshi is expected to remain in contention. Whether he gets an opportunity in the playing XI will depend on India’s combination and selection plans.
For Walter, the prospect of seeing the teenager in New Zealand conditions is particularly intriguing. Sooryavanshi has already experienced cricket in several countries, but New Zealand remains one of the few major cricketing environments he has yet to encounter. Walter is keen to see how his attacking batting style translates to surfaces that can offer greater pace and bounce.
The five-match series will also provide India with another opportunity to build towards their next T20I cycle. New Zealand, meanwhile, will be looking to respond after their defeat to India in the T20 World Cup final earlier this year. India has won 17 of their 28 T20Is against New Zealand, including their most recent meeting in the World Cup final. Their previous bilateral tours have produced contrasting results. India lost the 2019-20 series 1-2 before returning the following year to complete a 5-0 sweep.
For Sooryavanshi, though, the series could represent a test beyond the numbers. The teenager has already shown that he can score heavily on different surfaces. New Zealand will offer another question: how will one of India’s most aggressive young batters respond when the ball comes at him with extra pace and bounce?
