Former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond believes Indian spinner Varun Chakaravarthy could be a major challenge for New Zealand batters in the upcoming T20I series. Bond feels the extra bounce in New Zealand conditions could make the mystery spinner difficult to handle, even though the pitches are expected to favour fast bowlers. Chakaravarthy has taken 75 wickets in 49 T20I matches and returns to the Indian squad after recovering from a side strain. He had missed several matches, including the one-off game against Japan and the Asian Games.

Speaking to IANS, "It's good to see Chakravarthy back in. He's something that's completely different and unique. Quality bowler, I've seen so much of him in the IPL and he's been such a stalwart for KKR," Bond said. Bond also expressed excitement about watching 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi play in New Zealand. Having worked with him as part of the Rajasthan Royals coaching staff in the IPL, Bond has seen the youngster's talent closely.

Bond believes the young batter has earned his place in the Indian squad through his performances. "I'm looking forward to seeing Vaibhav. He's just such an incredible talent, and he's a great kid as well. It's awesome for him to be travelling with the Indian team and he deserves his spot in the side," Bond said. "He was the standout player in the IPL this year. He was just sensational, and it's hard to ignore that sort of talent, not only the talent, but the production of shots from him and what a devastating player he can be," he added.

However, Bond acknowledged that competition for places in India's playing XI is strong. He believes that even if Sooryavanshi does not play immediately, travelling with the team and experiencing New Zealand conditions will help him prepare for future tours. Bond also spoke about the absence of all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who has been dealing with recurring injuries. He believes Pandya brings an important balance to the Indian team, particularly with major international tournaments ahead. "Obviously it's a shame Hardik's not here. He's such a great player and adds such balance to a team. He's going to be a key figure for India in the couple of World Cups that are coming up," Bond said.

With Chakaravarthy's return, Sooryavanshi's potential involvement and the challenge of adapting to overseas conditions, the India-New Zealand T20I series promises plenty of interesting contests. Bond will be watching closely to see how India's young talent and experienced players perform against the hosts.