‘He’s not just your T20 slogger’: Manjrekar predicts big ODI future for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (X-Cricbuzz) Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar believes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is proving to be much more than just a T20 sensation after the 15-year-old once again impressed for India A in the ongoing tri-series in Sri Lanka.Sooryavanshi caught the eye with a scintillating 44 off just 22 balls against Afghanistan A on Thursday, continuing his meteoric rise after a breakthrough IPL 2026 campaign. While the teenager fell just short of a half-century, his innings drew praise for the way he scored his runs rather than the final number next to his name.Unlike the batting-friendly surfaces often found in the IPL, the conditions in Sri Lanka offered a different challenge. Still, Sooryavanshi adjusted impressively, relying on timing and positioning as much as aggression. His innings included nine boundaries and hit 200, notably without a single six.The display drew a strong response from Manjrekar, who opted for the X to highlight the youngster’s versatility and potential in the longer white-ball format.“India A is in SL, the pitch is not as flat as IPL and it is not T20 cricket. So I am watching Vaibhav Suryavanshi in different batting conditions. And I am excited!He’s not just your T20 slogger. He too can be a phenomenon one day! A special talent!” Manjrekar wrote on X.

Posted by Sanjay Manjrekar

The former India batsman’s comments came after Sooryavanshi gave India A a flying start in the rain-affected contest. Opening alongside Prabhsimran Singh, the left-hander helped add 74 runs in just 7.1 overs for the first wicket, putting Afghanistan A under immediate pressure.The innings also showed another side to Sooryavanshi’s game. Rather than relying solely on brute power, he repeatedly found the gaps with sharp shots and well-timed moves, reinforcing the notion that his game can be successfully transferred beyond T20 cricket.His knock eventually ended on 44 when he attempted a short ball from Abdollah Ahmadzai and edged past keeper Mohammad Ishaq. It was the second consecutive innings in which a short delivery outside the off-stump resulted in his dismissal.India A still piled up an impressive 349 for 9 in 49 overs. Prabhsimran top-scored with 84 while captain Tilak Varma and vice-captain Ruturaj Gaikwad hit 66. Suryansh Shedge then provided a late flourish with a quick-fire 40.Rain interruptions throughout the day meant that Afghanistan A were set a revised target of 294 from 38 overs by the DLS method. Captain Imran Mir bowled aggressively and remained unbeaten on 75 while Bahir Shah contributed an unbeaten 51 as Afghanistan reached 177 for 2 in 25.5 overs before further rain halted play.At that point, Afghanistan A were four runs ahead of DLS’s par score, leading to a four-run victory after the match was called off.