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3 Indian players who may be benched throughout NZ T20I series

India’s upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, starting October 22, 2026, will test the depth of Shreyas Iyer’s 16-man squad, where only 11 spots are available per match. With competition fierce, three players—Prince Yadav, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and Nitish Kumar Reddy—face long odds of securing a regular place in the playing XI.

Yadav, a left-arm spinner with nine T20I appearances and 10 wickets, struggled for consistency in the recent West Indies series, where he took just one wicket in two matches despite maintaining economy. His limited impact, combined with the squad’s bowling strength, makes his inclusion uncertain throughout the tour.

Sooryavanshi, a middle-order batter with 246 T20I runs across eight games, missed the West Indies series entirely and has yet to break into India’s T20I lineup since. His recent form at the Asian Games 2026 may not be enough to overcome the squad’s batting depth, leaving him on the outside looking in.

Nitish Kumar Reddy, an all-rounder with 153 runs and 10 wickets in nine matches, played four games against the West Indies but delivered only one strong performance. With multiple established all-rounders in the squad, his inconsistent returns could cost him a spot in the New Zealand series as well.

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