3 Indian players who may be benched throughout NZ T20I series

India’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand begins on October 22, 2026, with all matches scheduled to start at 12:30 PM IST. The series is part of a longer tour that also includes five ODIs and two Tests, concluding on December 1, 2026.

Shreyas Iyer leads the 16-man India T20I squad, with Tilak Varma named as vice-captain. New Zealand are led by Mitchell Santner. With only 11 spots available in any playing XI, at least five squad members will miss out across the series, making competition for places intense.

Here are three Indian players who may be benched throughout NZ T20I series:

1. Prince Yadav

Prince Yadav has taken 10 wickets across nine T20I appearances for India. He was part of the squad for the preceding T20I series against West Indies and featured in two of those matches, picking up one wicket while remaining economical. However, with a 16-member squad and several bowling options available, Yadav faces stiff competition for a place in the playing XI throughout the New Zealand series. His limited opportunities in the West Indies games and the presence of other established bowlers in the squad make it difficult for him to hold a regular spot.

2. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has accumulated 246 runs across eight T20I appearances for India. Despite those numbers, he did not feature in any of the West Indies T20Is in the series immediately preceding this tour. He did represent India at the Asian Games 2026, where he scored valuable runs. His absence from the West Indies T20I matches suggests he may find it difficult to break into the playing XI against New Zealand, particularly given the depth of batting options available in the current squad.

3. Nitish Kumar Reddy

Nitish Kumar Reddy is an all-rounder who has scored 153 runs and taken 10 wickets across nine T20I appearances. He played four matches against West Indies in the preceding T20I series but was effective in only one of those games. While his dual role as a batting and bowling option gives him some selection value, his inconsistent returns in the West Indies series may work against him when the selectors finalise their preferred XI for the New Zealand matches. The presence of other all-rounders in the squad adds to the competition he faces.