Fifteen-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has described his recent performance in Harare as a dream come true, after he played a pivotal role in India's 3-0 T20I series sweep of Zimbabwe. Sooryavanshi, who recorded scores of 50, 20, and 81 throughout the matches, made history by becoming the youngest player to earn both Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards in men's international cricket.
Reflecting on his success, the teenager noted that his familiarity with the venue, having played there during the Under-19 World Cup, helped him settle in quickly. He emphasized that the encouragement from the team management, including the captain and coaches, was instrumental to his growth. Regarding his batting approach, Sooryavanshi explained that he maintained his standard T20 style, focusing on securing a strong start and then building a substantial innings. He dismissed the idea of any secret technique, stating that he simply replicates in matches the same shots he practices during training sessions.
India's stand-in coach, VVS Laxman, lauded the youngster for his maturity, particularly in how he navigated a challenging, slower surface during the final match. Laxman highlighted that Sooryavanshi’s ability to assess conditions and counter the opposition's bowling plans was highly impressive for a player of his age. The coach also noted that he was not surprised by the teenager's rapid adjustment to international play, even after a tough introduction in England where he faced significant pace and bounce from Jofra Archer. Laxman suggested that Sooryavanshi has the right mindset to embrace pressure rather than being overawed by the occasion. He added that while Sooryavanshi was disappointed not to score a century, he has a long career ahead to achieve such milestones.
While acknowledging the teenager's immense potential, Laxman identified physical fitness as a key area for future improvement. He praised Sooryavanshi’s eagerness to contribute, noting that the player even requested to remain on the field despite an injury during the final game, only leaving because the team physiotherapist intervened. Looking ahead, India captain Shreyas Iyer also commended the squad for their fearless approach and high energy throughout the series, noting that creating a comfortable environment is essential for bringing out the best in such young talent.
"At the age of 14 or 15, when you're playing an IPL match, either you can be overawed bythe big occasion or absorb and embrace the pressure.And I think he's taken the second option where he embraced the pressure.So I'm not at all surprised the way this series has gone," Laxman said.
"He was disappointed not to get 100.But we mentioned to him that it's not going to be the first time or the last time he'llget an opportunity to score 100.He's got a long career. And he's got the attitude and the mindset to get better each and every day.And I'm sure that he will just progress and break all the records at the internationallevel.He's got all the potential and the ability to do that."
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