Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is flying high but England have plans to stop him: Sam Curran

England all-rounder Sam Curran believes teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is enjoying the form of his life but insisted the hosts have drawn up plans to face the Indian youngster ahead of the second T20I at Old Trafford in Manchester on Saturday 4 July.

Sooryavanshi, who has emerged as one of India’s brightest young prospects after a stunning IPL campaign, could be in line to make his T20I debut if India decide to make changes after starting the series with rain. Although the first match at Chester-le-Street ended without a result after India posted 189 for 7, the buzz around the 15-year-old only continued to grow.

Curran acknowledged the challenge posed by Sooryavanshi but said the English conditions may test the youngster in a different way.

“I think England will be a different challenge. The surfaces are very different and much slower than in India. As bowlers, of course we will have our plans but I’m not saying they will necessarily be the right plans. You never know because he is playing really well. He is so raw and just living his life,” Curran told reporters on the eve of the second T20I.

‘SOORYAVANSHI WILL HAVE HIS ACCOUNT’

The left-arm bowling all-rounder, who has extensive IPL experience, also said that handling the intense spotlight that comes with representing India could prove to be Sooryavanshi’s toughest test.

“I’ve had the experience of playing in India but I think being an Indian cricketer in India is on a whole different scale. That’s probably going to be his biggest challenge, how does he handle all the attention and expectations,” Curran said.

The England star urged the youngster to be patient despite the noise surrounding him.

“He’s only played one or two IPL seasons and he’s already in the Indian squad. I’m sure he’s got good people around him to help him, but you never really know until a player makes his debut and you see how he’s going. Like everyone else, I’m sure he’ll have his ups and downs,” he added.

So far, India have resisted the temptation to hand Sooryavanshi his first international cap, preferring to stick with the experienced top-order in the opening match.

However, with Sanju Samson struggling for consistency and increasingly clamoring for the teenager’s involvement, the team management faces another selection dilemma ahead of the Manchester game.

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Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

03 Jul 2026 19:37 IST