'Is the 15-year-old kid playing?': Ravi Shastri reveals NZ fans' query, warns India against benching Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi missed a sixth straight India game as he was benched again by Gautam Gambhir.

Ravi Shastri warned against benching him, and Mitchell Santner admitted New Zealand have plans.

Samson and Abhishek kept their opening slots after helping India win the T20 World Cup.

Ravi Shastri urges Team India to end Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's wait for a return to the playing XI

Ravi Shastri says even New Zealand supporters are asking whether the 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will play, and the former India coach has warned the team against keeping him on the sidelines for too long after Gautam Gambhir left the teenager out for the first T20I against New Zealand, which has stirred a fresh debate over the team's selection.

The omission was the sixth consecutive match in which Sooryavanshi did not make the playing XI, and many were quick to criticise head coach Gautam Gambhir and Shreyas Iyer.

India chose to retain their established opening pair of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, both of whom played key roles in the T20 World Cup 2026 triumph earlier this year. And on Thursday evening in Christchurch, those two delivered again as India raced to 94 in the powerplay while chasing a mammoth 226.

Sooryavanshi earned his place in the national set-up through a record-breaking IPL 2026 season with Rajasthan Royals. Although he had an impressive Zimbabwe trip, he has struggled to earn a spot in the starting XI against West Indies, and his wait coninues against New Zealand as well.

Shastri revealed that a chance encounter with local supporters had shown him how much interest the teenager has generated in New Zealand. He suggested that India risk damaging a young talent's rhythm if they keep him waiting too long.

While commentating on Sony, Shastri said: "I was walking down the river yesterday, and a few Kiwi fans asked me, 'Is the 15-year-old kid playing tomorrow?'. He's warmed the bench long enough; you don't wanna lose his form."

Mitchell Santner on Sooryavanshi: New Zealand know how dangerous the teenager is

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner was bound to be asked about the youngster and the threat he carries before the series kick-off. Santner, who followed India's recent T20I assignment against the West Indies closely, said his teammates are already well aware of Sooryavanshi's ability.

Santner told reporters: "Looking at India's squad and their last series, obviously he didn't play, but we have seen firsthand how good he is."

He then pointed out that the established openers have performed well too, so India do not have an obvious reason to make a change. He still believes the teenager will matter greatly for India in the years ahead.

Santner added: "With the IPL and the power at the top that India possess, players like Sanju and Abhishek have done really well. We know how good he is, even while the guys currently playing are also performing very well. He has a huge part to play for India in the future, whether it is in this series or not."

Santner has faced Sooryavanshi several times in the Indian Premier League, and he made it clear that New Zealand will be prepared if the teenager gets a chance.

Santner concluded: "If he does get a chance this series, we have seen what he can do, and opponents have found it quite hard to stop him. I know England went quite short and hard at a lot of the Indian batters during their away series, but we have seen in the IPL how aggressive he can be. We have got some plans ready for him if he happens to play."

Should India give Vaibhav Sooryavanshi a game in the New Zealand T20I series?

India's selectors are in a difficult position, since Samson and Abhishek helped win a World Cup and loyalty to an opening pair that delivered at that level is understandable. A team should not drop successful players only because a talented teenager is waiting.

Even so, Shastri's warning deserves attention. Sooryavanshi has been named in the squad, which means the team believes he belongs, and a player who sits out six straight games risks losing both sharpness and confidence. Opposition captains are not hiding their respect for him, and Santner's admission that New Zealand have plans suggests that the threat is real.

A sensible approach would be to give him a game in the later part of the series, once the result is clearer, so that he can face fresh bowlers without the pressure of a decider. That would let India test their depth before the next big tournament and reward a player whose record in the IPL was exceptional.

Benching a youngster is not wrong in itself. The concern is that the wait becomes the story, and a prospect with this much promise should not be left guessing for long.

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