‘My game is the same’: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after winning ‘man of the series’ at just 15
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (ANI Photo) Indian teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi announced his arrival on the international scene in emphatic fashion as he won the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards after starring in India’s 3-0 T20I series win over Zimbabwe in Harare. Sooryavanshi finished as India’s top scorer in the series with 151 runs in three innings, mixing a fearless strokeplay with a remarkable poise that was beyond his years. His performances earned him his first ever international Player of the Match and first Player of the Series awards, fitting reward after dominating Zimbabwe’s bowling attack throughout the series.Serial performance of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
- 1st T20I: 50 off 19 balls (18-ball fifties, 4 fours, 4 sixes)
- 2nd T20I: 20 off 9 balls
- 3rd T20I: 81 off 49 balls (8 fours, 4 sixes)
“A dream come true,” says Sooryavanshi
After receiving both awards at the post-match presentation, the youngster described the moment as the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition.
CJP Jantar Mantar protest update
“It was really good. Our preparation was very good within two or three days after arriving in Harare. I also played the Under-19 World Cup here so I’m really enjoying playing at this place, everyone has supported me, the captain, the coaches, everyone, so I’m very happy,” said Sooryvanashi. Known for his attacking style, Sooryavanshi said he never changed his natural game despite making the step up to international cricket.“My game is the same as what I play in T20 cricket. I just tried to do it for the team. In all the three matches I tried to give the team a good start. If I started well, then I wanted to extend the innings. That was my only approach. What I do in practice, I try to replicate in the match. Dream come true, my first player of the series Soryvanashi!”
India beat Zimbabwe by 35 runs
India completed a 3-0 T20I series sweep over Zimbabwe with a convincing 35-run victory in the third and final match at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday. Defending 192, the visitors restricted Zimbabwe to 157/7, handing captain Shreyas Iyer his first T20I series win since taking over the captaincy.The chase got off to the worst possible start for Zimbabwe when Mayank Yadav dismissed Brian Bennett on the very first ball of the innings. Yash Thakur then struck twice in the fourth over, removing Dion Myers and Sikandar Raza, leaving the hosts embarrassed.Ryan Burl fought a lone battle with an unbeaten 54 off 43 balls while Wessly Madhevere contributed 28. However, regular wickets prevented Zimbabwe from threatening the Indian total. Mayank Yadav finished with 3 wickets, Yash Thakur claimed 2 while Ravi Bishnoi and Ashok Sharma chipped in with one each.Earlier, India were 192/5 after electing to bat, largely thanks to a sensational 81 off 49 balls from 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The teenage opener smashed eight fours and four sixes to register his second T20I half-century before missing his maiden century of 19 years.Ishan Kishan scored 29, Shreyas Iyer added 27 and Rinku Singh’s unbeaten 25 off 14 balls provided the final momentum. For Zimbabwe, Brad Evans was the outstanding bowler with 2/41.The win marked India’s third consecutive T20I victory, completing a dominant clean sweep after tough tours of Ireland and England, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi finishing as the series’ leading run-scorer.