VVS Laxman, serving as India's head coach for the Zimbabwe series, has hailed 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for his "very mature" performance in the third T20I. The teenager top-scored with an 81 off 49 balls, helping India post 192 for 5 on a sluggish surface. This performance followed his fifty in the first game, marking a strong comeback after a lean tour of England. Laxman noted that the youngster's ability to learn from every experience has fueled his rapid rise, and he backed the teenager to "break all the records" in international cricket.
Regarding the third T20I, Laxman remarked, "Today what you saw was a mature innings because it was a difficult wicket. The ball was stopping and coming, the wicket was slow. I thought the Zimbabweans bowled well and had a plan for him. He countered that plan and it was a very, very mature knock from Vaibhav." Laxman highlighted that the teenager reviews every practice session and match, which contributes to his growth. He stated that Sooryavanshi's maturity, understanding, and awareness have "skyrocketed" over the last six months.
Laxman noted that the twin fifties in the series were expected, given the composure Sooryavanshi showed during his breakthrough IPL campaign with the Rajasthan Royals. "Last year when he played for Rajasthan Royals for the first time, the way he handled pressure… I believe that any IPL match is equivalent to an international match," Laxman said. He added that the teenager chose to embrace the pressure rather than be overawed by the occasion.
Although Sooryavanshi was disappointed not to get 100, the coaching staff reminded him to keep the bigger picture in mind. "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'll get an opportunity to score 100. He's got a long career," Laxman explained. As the head of the BCCI's Centre of Excellence, Laxman noted they have known the player for over two years, having identified him before the 2024 Under-19 World Cup. He highlighted that Sooryavanshi dominated the IPL within four to five months of the Under-19 World Cup.
Laxman emphasized that only minute technical adjustments are needed, but identified overall fitness as an area for improvement. He praised the teenager's commitment, noting that even after sustaining an injury during the match, Sooryavanshi wanted to remain on the field until the team physio insisted he come out. Laxman concluded that the team is fortunate to have such depth in its ecosystem for the next five to 10 years.
And I'm sure that he will just progress and break all the records at the international level.
Taking on the best bowlers from not only India but around the world, the way he evolved, the way he progressed as an international cricketer showed what kind of potential, class and talent he has.
