New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner says Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could be “hard to stop” for India if he plays in the five-match T20I series beginning in Christchurch. Santner adds that New Zealand has already done research on the young batter and has plans to counter him, should he be included in India’s XI.
Santner’s comments are framed around Sooryavanshi’s limited usage so far and his impact in earlier competitions. He also notes that India’s regular top order has performed well, which has meant Sooryavanshi has not featured in all matches, including against West Indies. Beyond the batter, Santner discusses the series conditions in New Zealand, saying they are likely to be bouncy and weather-dependent, and he expects a return to favor for pace and movement.
Across the outlets, the common focus is Santner’s warning about Sooryavanshi and New Zealand’s preparedness. Some coverage emphasizes the “plans” aspect, while others highlight that Sooryavanshi was benched for the West Indies matches. One outlet additionally includes discussion of Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s return and broader expectations for bowler-friendly contests.
