On Wednesday, 21 October 2026, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner spoke at a pre‑series press conference in Christchurch, warning that his side had prepared for India’s young left‑handed opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Santner said the 15‑year‑old would be "quite hard to stop" if he were to feature in the five‑match series that begins the next day.

He added that the New Zealand squad had carried out research on Sooryavanshi’s game, noting that the youngster had been used sparingly since his selection for the UK tour earlier in the year. The Indian side’s opening pair, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, have performed well, limiting opportunities for the teenager.

Santner also highlighted the threat posed by India’s fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is returning to the T20I setup after nearly four years. He said the new ball would be a challenge for New Zealand and that Bhuvneshwar had found swing and seam on flat pitches in India, suggesting he could exploit New Zealand conditions.

The first match of the series will be played at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, on Thursday 22 October, with the second scheduled for 24 October on the same venue. Santner noted that the first game may favour bowlers but could change quickly due to weather, while the second will be on a used pitch that could be flatter.

India’s squad for the series includes Sooryavanshi and Bhuvneshwar, with Shreyas Iyer captaining the side. The team also features other key players such as Tilak Varma, who will serve as vice‑captain. New Zealand’s lineup lists Santner as captain alongside Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway and others.

Santner, who is 34 and a left‑arm spinner, expressed confidence that Bhuvneshwar would enjoy the conditions in New Zealand, saying, "I think Bhuvi will love these conditions in New Zealand." He also remarked, "So we've got some plans for him if he happens to play."

The five‑match T20I series will be followed by a five‑match ODI series and then two Test matches, extending the tour into early November. The final T20I will be played at Seddon Park, Hamilton, on 1 November.

With the series set to begin in Christchurch, both teams will look to establish momentum early, as the New Zealand side seeks to build on a 4‑1 victory over India in the previous World Cup series, while India aims to regain form after a 2‑2 draw in their last T20I series.