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Harbhajan Singh urges Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to follow Kohli, Tendulkar and Dravid's discipline ahead of New Zealand series

Legendary Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has offered young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi a blueprint for success ahead of India’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand, set to begin on October 22, 2026. Sooryavanshi, already a standout talent, made headlines earlier this year with a record-breaking 175-ball century in the Under-19 World Cup final and became the youngest Indian to play international cricket after his T20I debut against England in July.

His blistering 50 off 19 balls in a T20I against Zimbabwe made him the youngest player ever to score a half-century in men’s international cricket, while his performances for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026 and a gold medal-winning role at the Asian Games 2026 have cemented his reputation as one of cricket’s most exciting prospects. Despite his rising profile, Sooryavanshi was omitted from India’s playing XI for the recent T20I series against the West Indies, leaving his role in the New Zealand tour under scrutiny.

Harbhajan, speaking on the *Prakhar Gupta Xperience* podcast, urged Sooryavanshi to emulate the discipline of cricketing icons like Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Anil Kumble, emphasizing the need to focus solely on the game and avoid distractions to reach his full potential. The series will take place across five venues: Christchurch (October 22 and 24), Wellington (October 27), Auckland (October 30), and Hamilton (November 1, 2026).

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