Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s “very mature” innings in the third Twenty20 International against Zimbabwe was praised by VVS Laxman, who also predicted that the teenager will “break all the records” in international cricket due to his capacity to learn from every experience.
After a poor tour of England, the 15-year-old followed up his fifty in the first game with a 49-ball 81 as India reached 192 for 5 on a slow surface. The innings highlighted Sooryavanshi’s developing maturity, according to Laxman, India’s head coach for the Zimbabwe series.
really mature. And that’s what I truly value about Vaibhav,” Laxman said. “He learns, evaluates, and improves with every encounter and every game. I believe he thoroughly reviews every practice, not just the games.Because
it was a challenging wicket, you witnessed a mature innings today. The wicket was sluggish, and the ball was coming and pausing. The Zimbabweans, in my opinion, had a strategy for him and bowled brilliantly. He disputed that idea, and Vaibhav’s response was incredibly mature.”
Laxman pointed to Sooryavanshi’s poise during his breakout IPL season with the Rajasthan Royals as evidence that his two fifties in the series were not surprising.According to Laxman, “it was on expected lines.”
“The way he handled pressure when he played for the Rajasthan Royals for the first time last year… Any IPL match is comparable to an international match, in my opinion. When you’re playing an IPL match at the age of 14 or 15, you may either absorb and enjoy the pressure or be overwhelmed by the huge event. I believe he chose the second course of action, accepting the pressure. Therefore, I’m not at all shocked by how this series has progressed.”
Sooryavanshi was unhappy to lose out on his first international century, according to Laxman, but the squad encouraged him to remember the broader picture. “He was upset because he didn’t receive 100. However, we told him that this would not be his first or final chance to get 100. He has a lengthy career. He has the goal and attitude to improve every single day. And I have no doubt that he will advance and shatter every record on the world scene. He has the capacity and capability to accomplish that.
Laxman, the head of the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, also discussed Sooryavanshi’s quick development, going from being a standout player at the Under-19 level to winning the IPL in a matter of months. “A player like Vaibhav, who just competed in the Under-19 World Cup, dominated the IPL in just four or five months. We are aware of how difficult IPL competition can be. The way he developed and advanced as an international cricket player demonstrated his potential, class, and talent as he faced the top bowlers from both India and the rest of the globe.
“I believe that the depth of our ecology is a great blessing. We have several talented players who will advance Indian cricket over the next five to ten years.”
Laxman, who has been working closely with Sooryavanshi for over two years, stated that the Center of Excellence has personally observed the adolescent’s extraordinary growth. “We are well familiar with Vaibhav. We initially discovered him around two and a half years ago, right before the 2024 Under-19 World Cup. He was one of India B’s best scorers during the Vijayawada quadrangular series. He has since participated in several camps at the CoE and was the top run scorer in the Under-19 World Cup. Thus, we are well acquainted with him.
“We know the individual as well as the player. Knowing the individual helps you understand what works for him and how to get him ready for a match so he’s in the greatest possible state of mind. He is skilled at what he does.
Laxman stated that Sooryavanshi’s greatest progress had come away from the crease, but maintaining that just “minute adjustments” were required technically. “I tell Vaibhav and everyone else that, in terms of competence, it’s simply about small tweaks. The way he has changed as a person, however, is quite remarkable. Over the past six months, awareness, comprehension, and maturity have truly increased dramatically. He has been able to manage difficult circumstances and perform well under duress against the top players because of this.”
Laxman emphasised the teen’s dedication to the squad while adding that fitness was still something he could work on. “We want him to improve in a number of areas, including general fitness. Additionally, we must keep in mind that he is just 15 years old. Even as a young child, he aspires to improve in all facets of the game. As you can see from today’s game, he still wanted to play despite his injury. In reality, it was our physiotherapist who urged him to leave. That demonstrates his desire and sincerity to support the club in any manner imaginable.
