Sooryavanshi 81 in Zimbabwe sweep draws Laxman praise
VVS Laxman praised Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s maturity after the 15-year-old starred in India’s 3-0 T20 series win over Zimbabwe.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
2 min read
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s 81 in Zimbabwe capped a breakthrough T20 series for India, and coach VVS Laxman said the 15-year-old has developed the composure needed for high-pressure cricket. India completed a 3-0 sweep of Zimbabwe on Sunday, with Sooryavanshi named player of the series.
Reuters reported that Sooryavanshi made two half-centuries in the three-match series. He began the tour with an 18-ball fifty in the first T20 and followed it with 81 in the final match.
Laxman told reporters in Zimbabwe that Sooryavanshi’s maturity had stood out during a rapid six-month rise. He said the left-hander learns from each match and training session, and has improved his ability to assess situations.
How did Vaibhav Sooryavanshi do against Zimbabwe?
Sooryavanshi scored two half-centuries in three T20s as India beat Zimbabwe 3-0, according to Reuters. His performances earned him the player-of-the-series award and strengthened his early case in India’s senior T20 side.
The Zimbabwe series followed a difficult introduction to international cricket in England earlier in July. Reuters reported that Sooryavanshi scored 14, 13 and 15 in his first three T20 internationals before being left out of the fifth match.
Laxman said he was not troubled by those early scores in England. He backed Sooryavanshi to keep improving and said the teenager had the potential and ability to break records at international level.
Who is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi?
Sooryavanshi is a 15-year-old Indian batter who was fast-tracked into the national T20 side after a breakthrough Indian Premier League season, according to Reuters. He is also the youngest player to represent India in international cricket.
Laxman has followed Sooryavanshi’s progress from age-group cricket through the IPL and into the senior team. The coach said the player’s willingness to learn has been one of his strongest traits.
Fitness remains an area India want Sooryavanshi to improve, Laxman said. He described the batter as young and eager to get better in every part of the game.
Laxman also pointed to an incident in the Zimbabwe match when Sooryavanshi was hurt while attempting a diving catch from deep square leg. The coach said Sooryavanshi wanted to stay on the field, but India’s physio told him to come off.
For India, the series gave a young batter a fast rebound from an uneven first tour. For Sooryavanshi, it added early international runs to a rise that has already moved from age-group cricket to the IPL and the national team in quick order.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.