Rob Walter Wants to See Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Tested on New Zealand’s Pacy, Bouncy Pitches

September 24, 2026

New Zealand head coach Rob Walter is keen to see how India’s young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi performs on the pacy and bouncy pitches during the upcoming India vs New Zealand T20I series.

India are scheduled to face New Zealand in a long tour featuring five T20Is, five ODIs and two Test matches. The T20I series will begin on October 22, followed by the ODI leg from November 4, while the first Test is scheduled to start on November 19.

Rob Walter Keen to Test Sooryavanshi on Pacy Wickets

Sooryavanshi, who has made a strong impact in T20 cricket at a young age, is expected to be one of the players to watch during the five-match T20I series.

Speaking about the youngster, Walter said he would like to see how Sooryavanshi handles New Zealand’s pace and bounce.

“Yes, I’d love to see him on pacy and bouncy wickets and see how different that looks. But he’s an exciting player. You’ve seen him dominate against the world’s best bowlers in the IPL. I think the challenge is always to see how that translates to different conditions, and also how we bowl to him in our conditions,” Walter said.

Walter added that coaches want to see how players respond when placed under pressure, while acknowledging that India have several quality players even if Sooryavanshi does not feature.

Sooryavanshi Faces New Zealand Conditions Test

The New Zealand conditions could provide a different challenge for Sooryavanshi, particularly with pace and bounce expected to play a role.

The 15-year-old has attracted significant attention for his performances in T20 cricket and has already made his mark at the international level. His ability to adapt to different playing conditions will be closely watched during India’s tour of New Zealand.

India vs New Zealand Series Schedule

The five-match T20I series will start on October 22, with the ODI series beginning on November 4. The two-Test series will then get underway from November 19, making it a lengthy assignment for both teams.

Sooryavanshi’s T20I Numbers

Sooryavanshi has played six T20Is for India so far and has scored 193 runs at an average of 32.16, according to the supplied match record.

His performances on New Zealand’s pitches will offer another opportunity to assess how the young batter adapts to conditions different from those he has experienced in India.