Sports · Cricket · 18 hrs ago
New Zealand prepare plans to challenge India teenager Sooryavanshi
New Zealand fast bowler Jacob Duffy says his team has studied India opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ahead of their five-match T20I series.
The 15-year-old has drawn attention with his powerful, consistent batting and became the youngest player to score a half-century in men's international cricket.
He hit an 18-ball fifty against Zimbabwe after making his international debut in England in July.
New Zealand have plans to counter his hitting, Duffy said, while noting that conditions at home will be different from those Sooryavanshi faced in England.
The opening match is at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, where pitches can offer movement and bounce to fast bowlers.
The series will test Sooryavanshi's adaptability against an attack playing in familiar conditions.
The T20Is are the first part of India's tour, which will also include one-day internationals and a two-Test series.
New Zealand is preparing plans to challenge India teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in a five-match T20I series.
Pacer Jacob Duffy said New Zealand had studied the 15-year-old batter and expects home conditions to test him.
The series begins at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval on Thursday.
Sooryavanshi has set records in the Indian Premier League and became the youngest international cricketer in men’s cricket for India.
Duffy hopes the Hagley Oval pitch will offer bounce and help bowlers.
- Who
- New Zealand, led in comments by pacer Jacob Duffy, plans to challenge India batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
- What
- New Zealand has studied Sooryavanshi and prepared plans to counter his batting in a five-match T20I series.
- When
- The series begins on Thursday; the articles were published on October 20, 2026.
- Where
- The opening match is at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, New Zealand.
- Why
- New Zealand expects its home conditions, including possible seam movement and bounce, to challenge Sooryavanshi.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Sooryavanshi made his T20I debut in England, becoming India's youngest international cricketer in the men's game.
Sooryavanshi hit an 18-ball half-century against Zimbabwe, becoming the youngest player to score a fifty in men's international cricket.
New Zealand studied Sooryavanshi and Duffy spoke with Hagley Oval's head groundsman about the pitch.
The five-match T20I series is due to begin at Christchurch's Hagley Oval.
- Sooryavanshi's age
- 15
- T20I series
- Five matches
- Opening venue
- Hagley Oval, Christchurch
- Sooryavanshi's Zimbabwe fifty
- 18 balls
- Duffy's description of Sooryavanshi's strike rate
- 250
3 sources
What people are saying
First of all, he's an incredible talent.
We’ve certainly had a good scouting session on him and got our plans as to what we want to do to him.
As long as it's not Hyderabad, I'm happy.