Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s maturity became VVS Laxman’s biggest IND vs ZIM
India’s interim coach VVS Laxman believes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s biggest transformation in the last six months has not been his stroke play but his maturity. After the 15-year-old capped off a remarkable tour of Zimbabwe by winning the Man of the Match and Man of the Series awards, Laxman said the teenager’s awareness of the game “soared up”, allowing him to thrive under pressure.
Sooryavanshi completed the three-match T20I series with 151 runs averaged 50.33, including a match-winning 81 in the final game as India completed a 3-0 clean sweep. The performances marked a stunning turnaround after the youngster endured a difficult debut series against England where scores of 13, 14 and 15 went down in the T20I final.
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Laxman, who is leading India in Gautam Gambhir’s absence, said Sooryavanshi’s rapid growth is evident both on and off the field.
“What’s really impressive is the way he’s developed as a person. The level of maturity, understanding and awareness has really skyrocketed in the last six months. And that’s why he’s been able to handle difficult situations.”
The former India batsman also pointed to Sooryavanshi’s rise over the past year, from the Under-19 World Cup to dominating the IPL before making his mark on the international stage.
“He played the Under-19 World Cup and dominated the IPL within four to five months. We know how tough the competition can be in the IPL.”
“He has come up against the best bowlers not just from India but from all over the world, how he has developed, how he has progressed as an international cricketer and shown what potential, class and talent he has.”
LAXMAN SUPPORTS TEENAGE TEMPERAMENT
Laxman said he was never surprised by Sooryavanshi’s comeback after a disappointing England series, he insisted the teenager has already shown he has the temperament to excel on the biggest stages.
“Any IPL match is equivalent to an international match. At the age of 14 or 15, you can either be overwhelmed by the opportunity or accept the pressure. I think he chose the latter option.”
The Indian coach also highlighted the youngster’s hunger to improve and revealed that Sooryavanshi wanted to stay on the field despite the injury during the third T20I.
“He is only 15 years old. He himself wants to improve in all aspects of the game. Even when he got injured, he still wanted to be on the field. That’s his zeal and seriousness.”
“SHE WILL BREAK ALL RECORDS”
Sooryavanshi narrowly missed out on a maiden international century after falling for 81 in the deciding series and Laxman admitted the teenager was disappointed in the dressing room.
However, the coach reminded him that there are many bigger opportunities ahead.
“He was disappointed he didn’t get 100. But we told him it wouldn’t be the first or last time. He’s had a long career.”
“He has the attitude and mindset to improve every day. I’m sure he will progress and break all the records at international level. He has all the potential and ability to do it.”
Laxman added that Sooryavanshi is one of several exciting young cricketers to emerge from India’s talent pool who he believes will keep the national team competitive in the years to come.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
Jul 27, 2026 10:07 AM IST