Indian team for the T20I series was announced recently, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshiwas also included. He has become a huge sensation worldwide. The 15-year-old, who made his debut during the series against England in Manchester, has played eight T20Is, scoring 246 runs, an average of 30 with two fifties and a strike rate of 186.
Lockie Fergusonthe veteran New Zealand bowler, is part of the squad that will play the five-match T20I series against India. The 35-year-old pacer spoke to the media and said that he was looking forward to the challenge of facing the young batting sensation.
“I have played against Vaibhav in the IPL. He is a player with proper and unreal talent. It has come as no surprise that he has been pushed into the Indian squad as he has done well in the successive IPL seasons.” The left-handed batter made his IPL debut for Rajasthan Royals in 2025, scoring 252 runs from seven games with one century.
He followed it up with 776 runs from 16 games in IPL 2026, with one century and five fifties. The batter recorded an average of 48.5 and batted with a strike rate of 237, with 63 boundaries and 72 sixes.
“I am looking forward to the challenge. It is his first time here (New Zealand), and I am not sure if he has played here before. But yeah, it is going to be an awesome series. India is an unreal side and hosting them here in New Zealand is going to be awesome.”
Sooryavanshi was last seen playing for India in the Asian Games 2026 campaign. The batter scored 38 runs in the semi-final against Sri Lanka and followed it up with 15 runs in the final against Pakistan, which the Indian side won by 19 runs.
New Zealand’s T20I and ODI squad for India series
T20I squad – Find AllenBevon Jacobs, Michael Bracewell, Daryl Mitchell, Josh Clarkson, Mitchell Santner (C), Nathan Smith, Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert, Jacob Doffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Blair Tickner.
ODI squad for first three games – Mark Chapman, Will Young, Michael Bracewell, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Mitchell Santner (C), Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Tom Latham, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Blair Tickner, Kyle Jamieson
ODI squad for matches four and five – Fill Allen, Mark Chapman, Will Young, Nick Kelly, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (C), Tim Seifert, Mitchell Hay, Kristan Clarke, Jacob Duffy, Matthew Fisher, Lockie Ferguson, Blair Tickner.