{
  "id": 17551626,
  "title": "Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on the bench again; Shreyas Iyer makes two changes",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/vaibhav-sooryavanshi-on-the-bench-again-shreyas-iyer-makes-two-changes",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-01T07:03:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/india-vs-new-zealand/ind-vs-nz-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-on-the-bench-again-shreyas-iyer-makes-two-changes-for-fifth-t20i-against-new-zealand/articleshow/135420336.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "New Zealand opted to bowl first in the fifth and final match of the five-match T20I series against India at Seddon Park, marking the first time captain Mitchell Santner won the toss in the series. Both teams made two changes to their playing lineups. India fielded Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Varun Chakravarthy, replacing Mayank Yadav and Axar Patel. New Zealand included Blair Tickner instead of Matt Fisher. Teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has only played two matches in the series, was once again absent from the lineup. New Zealand's series lead stands at 3-1, with India already winning the first three matches before New Zealand's comeback victory in the fourth T20I.",
  "summary": "Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was once again left out of the playing XI. The teenager has featured in only two matches in the series, coming into the side when Ishan Kishan was injured. India have already taken an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series. They won the first three matches to seal the series before New Zealand bounced back with an 87-run victory in the fourth T20I.",
  "key_points": [
    "New Zealand batted first, breaking the toss-winning streak",
    "India replaced Mayank Yadav and Axar Patel with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Varun Chakravarthy",
    "Vaibhav Sooryavanshi excluded despite playing two matches in the series"
  ],
  "editors_take": "India's tactical rotations for the series finale signal a shift in selection priority as the team attempts to recover from their recent loss to New Zealand.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Vaibhav Sooryavanshi score today for New Zealand vs. India 5th T20I in Hamilton",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/vaibhav-sooryavanshi-score-today-for-new-zealand-vs-india-5th-t20i-in",
        "published": "2026-11-01T05:30:01.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}