Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to play 2nd T20I against New Zealand? Indian batting coach reveals
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Source: BCCI Domestic on X)
Published - 23 Oct 2026, 10:56 AM• Read time - 2 mins
India’s teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi might finally get his much-awaited opportunity in the playing XI during the upcoming second T20I against New Zealand at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Sooryavanshi remained on the bench during India’s home T20I series against Afghanistan and West Indies and last played during the Asian Games 2026 gold medal match against Pakistan.
Having warmed the bench in India's last six T20Is, Sooryavanshi could finally get his chance during the second T20I on October 24, following an injury to Ishan Kishan. The southpaw has been ruled out of the upcoming fixture due to a right adductor strain.
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has revealed that the team management will be looking at Sooryavanshi to replace Kishan in the second game of the five-match series.
"If Ishan can't play - unless he recovers completely, the medical team will tell [us] - then obviously Vaibhav comes into the calculations as a batter. [He is] definitely one of the strongest persons who can play,” Kotak said in the pre-match press conference.
Kishan suffered the injury during the first T20I, which forced India to rejig their batting order with Tilak Varma promoted to number three in place of Kishan. If Sooryavanshi does get his chance, it remains to be seen whether he would open or bat at number three in Kishan’s place.
"Ishan Kishan has a niggle in his groin. I know there was speculation [about the change in the batting order], but it wasn't a change as such. It was because of the groin strain [to Kishan]. I think he is unlikely for one game,” Kotak added.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's career so far
After becoming the youngest Indian to make his debut in international cricket during the second T20I against England in Manchester, Sooryavanshi has played eight T20Is and scored 246 runs at an average of 30.75 and a strike rate of 186.36. He has struck two half-centuries in his short career, both against Zimbabwe, with his highest score being 81 (49) against Zimbabwe in Harare.
Sooryavanshi has already become the youngest player to score a fifty in international cricket at the age of 15 years and 118 days. He will be in contention to become the youngest to breach the three-figure mark as well, if he gets going in New Zealand.