New Zealand head coach Rob Walter is keen to see how India’s young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi performs on the country’s fast and bouncy pitches when India tour New Zealand next month.
The upcoming multi-format tour will also feature a five-match T20I series, giving Vaibhav Sooryavanshi another opportunity to prove himself in challenging overseas conditions.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi had a remarkable IPL 2026 season, finishing as the Orange Cap winner after scoring 776 runs at an extraordinary strike rate of more than 237. His performances earned him a place in India’s T20I squad for the tours of Ireland and England.
His first T20I series in England, however, was difficult. The youngster struggled against the pace and bounce and was dismissed by Jofra Archer. He scored only 42 runs in three innings, averaging 14. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi then made a strong comeback in Zimbabwe. He produced an impressive series and was named the Player of the Series.
Rob Walter believes the New Zealand conditions will provide an interesting test for the youngster. He said he would like to see how Vaibhav Sooryavanshi handles the extra pace and bounce and whether his attacking style can be equally effective in different conditions.
The New Zealand coach also pointed out that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has already shown that he can dominate some of the best bowlers in the world during the IPL. However, he said the real challenge would be seeing how the batter adjusts when opponents find ways to test him in unfamiliar conditions.
Rob Walter also made it clear that New Zealand’s upcoming T20I series against India should not be viewed simply as an opportunity for revenge.
New Zealand are still coming off a painful defeat in the 2026 T20 World Cup final. The Kiwis were chasing their maiden T20 World Cup title but suffered a heavy 96-run defeat against India in the final in Ahmedabad earlier this year.
Rob Walter acknowledged that losing a World Cup final is difficult for any team, adding that he knows the feeling himself after losing two finals. However, he stressed that representing the Black Caps and New Zealand remains the team’s main priority.
With India set to visit New Zealand next month, all eyes will be on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as he faces another major test against quality pace bowling and challenging conditions.
