Vaibhav Sooryavanshi threat: Afghanistan turn to IPL experience to deal with Indian opener

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will be one of the players Afghanistan will have to keep a close eye on when they take on India in the first T20I of the three-match series on Sunday. The 15-year-old opener has already made a strong impression in the IPL and Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran admitted that his team had prepared for the challenge he presented.

Afghanistan sought input from players who faced Sooryavanshi in the IPL and also studied videos of the teenager to understand his batting. However, Zadran said his side would focus on implementing their plans rather than getting caught up in the hype surrounding the young Indian star.

“He is an amazing talent. He has performed really well in the IPL and performed at different levels of the competition. We have spoken about him and we have this knowledge from the guys who have played against him in the IPL,” Zadran said at Saturday’s pre-match press conference.

“We watched his videos. We will try to make it simple for us and we will try to implement our plans,” he added.

Sooryavanshi is heading to the series after a productive Duleep Trophy campaign with East Zone. In three matches, he scored 192 runs in five innings, including a crucial 92 in the semi-final against Central Zone.

The Duleep Trophy campaign also offered Sooryavanshi an opportunity to showcase his game in red-ball cricket, but it was the T20 format that made him one of the most closely watched young cricketers in India. His performance in the IPL heralded his arrival on the big stage, with his aggressive approach and ability to score quickly earning him widespread attention.

Afghanistan, meanwhile, will look to their experience of playing in Indian conditions when they open the series against Shreyas Iyer’s side. Zadran believes the familiarity with the conditions built up over years of playing in India and at major tournaments will help his team.

“We know the conditions very well. We just have to execute the plan according to the situation,” he said.

The series is also an important test for Zadran in his first full stint as Afghanistan’s T20I captain. He took over the leadership role from Rashid Khan earlier this year after previously serving as his deputy.

“It’s a big responsibility for me. As a player and captain, I try to enjoy it, take responsibility and make the right decisions in pressure situations,” said Zadran.

Instead of focusing on the result, Zadran wants Afghanistan to stay committed to their progress and give their best during the three-match series.

“We’re trying to give 100 percent and think about progress. Hopefully we’ll have a good series,” he added.

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Issued by:

Saurabh Kumar

Published on:

13 Sep 2026 14:08 IST