Former India cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara has stated that India needs only one opener to partner Abhishek Sharma in the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand, and only one of Sanju Samson or Vaibhav Sooryavanshi can be that person.

India is set to tour New Zealand for five T20Is, five ODIs, and two Tests, starting with the T20Is from October 22.

Pujara backed Sanju Samson to recover with a single pivotal performance since he thinks consistency is overrated for top-order hitters in T20 cricket.  

"Consistency should be there, but for the top order, I think consistency is overrated in T20s. He is never out of form. The kind of player Sanju Samson has been in the T20 format; his form fluctuates. But it is always a matter of one innings. He plays one good inning, and he is back in form. So, you cannot say that this player is not in form. In the T20 format, you are bound to have failures. Who doesn't get out in T20s?" Pujara said Samson's fluctuating returns on JioHotstar.

Pujara was also skeptical about the probability of both Samson and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the teenage sensation, forming part of India's playing XI during their tour to New Zealand, saying there was a need for more all-rounders.

"Vaibhav playing every game seems a bit difficult in New Zealand because there you need more all-rounders, either a spin all-rounder or a seam-bowling all-rounder. So, there you don't need a lot of batters, especially in the top order.

Either Sanju Samson or Vaibhav can open. I don't think both can be part of the playing XI in New Zealand conditions. So, Vaibhav will have to wait, but he will get opportunities,” Pujara said.

Pujara, however, clarified that Sooryavanshi could still feature during the series if conditions or player availability create an opening.

"If the spot opens up for him based on conditions or players' fitness, that's fine. But both Sanju and Vaibhav cannot be in the playing XI in New Zealand," he said.

(PTI inputs)