NZ vs IND: Shreyas Iyer opens up on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's selection, Bhuvneshwar Kumar's comeback reason & more
(Courtesy : BCCI)
Shreyas Iyer set to lead India in five-match T20I series against New Zealand.
India are preparing for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which begins on October 22. The team will look to start the tour with a win and adjust quickly to the conditions.
India‘s recent T20I series against West Indies ended in a 2-2 draw, with the final match in Bengaluru washed out. The upcoming series will give the team another chance to test its players and find the right combination.
Ahead of the first T20I in Christchurch, India captain Shreyas Iyer addressed questions about the team’s selection decisions.
He spoke about young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s limited opportunities and explained why experienced pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has returned to the squad after nearly four years.
Shreyas Iyer explains why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi must wait
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Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson remain the preferred opening options, making it difficult for the 15-year-old to find a place in the team.
Shreyas Iyer said Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is still young and has plenty of time to establish himself in international cricket. He also pointed out that India’s current openers have performed consistently.
“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.
Shreyas Iyer reveals why Bhuvneshwar Kumar was recalled
India have brought several new bowlers into the team following the IPL, and Iyer believes Bhuvneshwar Kumar can add valuable experience to the attack.
“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.
The captain also pointed to Bhuvneshwar’s recent IPL success as evidence of his ability in the shortest format.
“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.
Bhuvneshwar played a key role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s back-to-back IPL titles in 2025 and 2026. He took 28 wickets in 16 matches in the 2026 season, strengthening his position in the Indian bowling setup.
Bhuvneshwar’s return also gives India another option in the pace attack. With several bowlers competing for places, the team management will have to make difficult decisions while selecting 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.
When will India’s T20I series against New Zealand begin?
India’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand begins on October 22, 2026.
How many wickets did Bhuvneshwar Kumar take in IPL 2026?
Bhuvneshwar Kumar took 28 wickets in 16 matches in IPL 2026.
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