India dominated with a 3-0 series sweep against Zimbabwe in Harare on Sunday after a brilliant batting display from teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The 15-year-old left-hander smashed 81 runs off just 49 balls to guide India to a 35-run victory in the third T20I. India’s interim head coach VVS Laxman praised the youngster, stating that his maturity has skyrocketed over the last six months.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s match-winning innings included eight fours and four sixes. This helped India set a target of 192 runs by losing 5 wickets. The teenage sensation finished with 151 runs across three matches. His efforts earned him both the Player of the Match and the Player of the Series awards. This victory also helped India reclaim the world number one ranking in T20I cricket.
Laxman Impressed by Sooryavanshi’s Maturity
Coach VVS Laxman spoke highly of Sooryavanshi’s ability to adapt to difficult conditions during the series finale in Harare. The first match had been a high-scoring contest where the teenager had scored a 19-ball fifty, while the third match had needed more patience.
VVS Laxman was all praise for captain Shreyas Iyer in the dressing room after India’s series whitewash of Zimbabwe 👏#ZIMvIND pic.twitter.com/fpG3DObyCZ
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) July 27, 2026
“Sooryavanshi read the situation very well and he changed his natural attacking style to suit the pitch,” said Laxman. “The young player always goes through his practice sessions and matches looking for ways to improve,” the coach pointed out.
A Rapid Rise in International Cricket
The success in Zimbabwe marks a significant turnaround for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Earlier this month, he faced a difficult debut series against England. During that tour, he only managed scores of 13, 14, and 15 before the team dropped him for the final match.
Laxman stated that Sooryavanshi’s experience in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Rajasthan Royals had helped him to handle the pressures of international cricket. The coach said playing in the IPL is like playing in an international game because of the stakes involved and the world-class competition. So, the coaching staff was not startled by the teenager’s ability to handle pressure at such a young age.
Remarkable Growth Over Six Months
Laxman revealed that the Centre of Excellence (CoE) first identified Sooryavanshi two and a half years ago. He stood out as a top scorer for India B in a quadrangular series in Vijayawada before the 2024 Under-19 World Cup.
‘Our physio asked him to come off’: VVS Laxman wants Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to improve overall fitness after Zimbabwe series#INDvsZIMhttps://t.co/o3nKD1iTB8
— Sports Tak (@sports_tak) July 27, 2026
Laxman is impressed with his physical skills, but he is most pleased with how Sooryavanshi has grown as a person. He has improved his understanding of the game and his mental toughness hugely in a very short space of time. During the third T20I against Zimbabwe, the teenager suffered an injury but insisted on staying on the field to help his team. The team physio eventually had to tell him to come off for treatment. The only thing Laxman would want the youngster to work on is fitness.
Future Goals and Breaking Records
Despite his massive success, Laxman pointed out areas where the 15-year-old can still improve. Since he is still very young, the coaching staff believes that improving his physical strength will make him an even more dangerous player in the future.
Sooryavanshi was reportedly disappointed that he did not reach a century in the final match against Zimbabwe. However, the coaching staff reminded him that he has a very long career ahead of him. Laxman is confident that the teenager has the right attitude and mindset to break many international records. Meanwhile, the coach also praised India’s cricket ecosystem for producing such high-quality players for the future.
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