Mitchell Santner Has Plans Ready for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner says his side has plans ready for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should the teenage India opening batter feature in the upcoming T20I series. Sooryavanshi did not play a match in India’s five-game series against the West Indies, leaving his involvement against New Zealand uncertain despite the attention around his potential selection.

Speaking on the eve of the T20I series opener, Santner acknowledged both the strength of India’s current options and the threat Sooryavanshi can pose. The New Zealand captain said competition for places in the Indian side is fierce, but made clear that his team has seen enough of the 15-year-old to prepare for him.

Santner praises India opener despite selection uncertainty

Santner said New Zealand had followed India’s preceding T20I assignment against the West Indies, even though Sooryavanshi did not feature in that series. He pointed to the depth available to India at the top of the order, where other players have also been performing strongly.

“Looking at India’s squad and their last series, obviously he didn’t play, but we have seen firsthand how good he is,” Santner told reporters.

The New Zealand skipper also referred to the power India possess at the top of their batting order, naming Sanju and Abhishek as players who have done well. In that context, Santner said Sooryavanshi remains a player with an important future for India, whether his opportunity arrives in this series or later.

“With the IPL and the power at the top that India possess, players like Sanju and Abhishek have done really well. We know how good he is, even while the guys currently playing are also performing very well. He has a huge part to play for India in the future, whether it is in this series or not,” Santner added.

Sooryavanshi goes into the New Zealand series after being left out of all five matches against West Indies. That recent absence means there is no certainty over whether he will be selected, with the decision resting with the Gautam Gambhir-led India team management. But Santner’s comments underline that New Zealand are not treating the possibility of his inclusion lightly.

The captain has faced Sooryavanshi multiple times in the Indian Premier League and said opponents have found the young batter difficult to contain. Santner also recalled England’s approach during their away series against India, when they went short and hard at several Indian batters.

New Zealand prepare for possible Sooryavanshi role

Santner did not detail New Zealand’s intended plans, but he confirmed they have prepared specifically for the possibility that Sooryavanshi receives a chance. The captain highlighted the aggressive batting the opener has shown in the IPL and said that knowledge will inform New Zealand’s preparation.

“If he does get a chance this series, we have seen what he can do, and opponents have found it quite hard to stop him. I know England went quite short and hard at a lot of the Indian batters during their away series, but we have seen in the IPL how aggressive he can be. We have got some plans ready for him if he happens to play,” Santner concluded.

The selection call will therefore be a key point before the series begins. India have several in-form opening options, while New Zealand have already mapped out a response if Sooryavanshi is handed an opportunity. Santner’s assessment also reflects the regard in which the teenager is held by an opposition captain who has encountered him in the IPL.