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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in trouble as New Zealand prepare plans to counter him

New Zealand’s pace attack has begun preparing for India’s explosive young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ahead of the upcoming five-match T20I series, starting October 22. The Kiwi side, led by Jacob Duffy, has studied Sooryavanshi’s aggressive IPL 2026 performances—where he consistently struck at over 250 runs per game—while acknowledging that New Zealand’s conditions may pose a different challenge.

Sooryavanshi, though absent from India’s recent T20I series against the West Indies, remains a focal point for New Zealand’s game plan, with Duffy praising his ability to dominate with both power and consistency despite limited recent international experience.

Duffy also highlighted Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s return to the Indian team after a four-year absence, noting the left-arm seamer’s skillful variations—including swing, length control, and tactical changes—as assets that make him difficult to counter. The New Zealand pacer, who shared the Royal Challengers Bengaluru dressing room during IPL 2026, expressed excitement for the series, expecting India to remain a formidable opponent despite recent struggles in overseas conditions.

The upcoming clashes will test New Zealand’s strategies against Sooryavanshi and Kumar, with Duffy confident the Kiwis are ready for the challenge.

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