India captain Shreyas Iyer has urged patience regarding the inclusion of 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the national team’s ongoing tour of New Zealand. Despite calls to feature the young batsman prominently in the T20 series beginning this week in Christchurch, Iyer emphasized that Sooryavanshi’s progression will be carefully managed given the strength and consistency of India’s current opening pair.

Sooryavanshi, who made his international debut in July and first captured attention with his Indian Premier League (IPL) exploits at the age of 14, has yet to secure a regular spot against top-tier opponents. India arrived in New Zealand on Tuesday, ahead of a 40-day tour encompassing five T20 internationals, five one-day matches, and two Test fixtures. The tour also marks a century of sporting ties between the two nations.

“Vaibhav has many more years ahead to earn opportunities,” Iyer said, pointing out that the incumbent openers have played consistently, contributing to India’s recent World Cup success. While the teenager boasts an impressive IPL record, including an early century within days of his debut, his international T20 stats — averaging just over 30 with a strike rate of 186 across eight matches — remain below his domestic performance.

Iyer also highlighted the developmental benefits of the tour for Sooryavanshi, regardless of match participation. “Experiencing overseas conditions will help him understand how the game unfolds on these wickets, preparing him better for future tours,” he noted.

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner acknowledged Sooryavanshi’s potential, having observed the young player during IPL competitions. Santner described him as a “huge part” of India’s plans, either immediately or down the line, but also indicated that New Zealand has devised strategies to counter his batting. He mentioned that conditions at the first match venue, Hagley Oval, would favor seam bowling and presented a contrast to the typically hot and humid climate Indian players are accustomed to.

Santner also noted New Zealand’s player absences for the series, including Will O’Rourke, Mark Chapman, and Zak Foulkes. However, he said the team would rely on the power-hitting skills of Finn Allen and Tim Seifert at the top of their batting order.

On India’s side, the squad saw the return of experienced seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar after a four-year hiatus, while Jasprit Bumrah was rested for workload management following his key role in India’s recent Asian Games gold medal campaign in Japan.