Santner wary of Sooryavanshi threat despite limited opportunities
Santner confirmed New Zealand have studied Sooryavanshi while Shreyas Iyer said the teenager must wait for his chance.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said his side has prepared plans to counter 15-year-old opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi if he features in the five-match T20I series starting Thursday in Christchurch. Sooryavanshi remains in India's squad but hasn't played since the tour of Zimbabwe.
India captain Shreyas Iyer said the teenager won't walk straight into the side because Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma have performed consistently and won the 2026 T20 World Cup. Iyer added that Sooryavanshi will gain valuable experience of overseas conditions during the series.
Santner noted that Bhuvneshwar Kumar, recalled after nearly four years, will also enjoy the New Zealand conditions. The first match begins at Hagley Oval on 22 October.
CricHubb Take
Santner's early planning shows how quickly a young batter's reputation can force teams to adjust, even before he plays an innings on foreign soil.