Laxman commends Sooryavanshi’s maturity following India’s T20 sweep of Zimbabwe

India’s stand-in T20 coach VVS Laxman has lauded 15-year-old batsman Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for his exceptional maturity and tactical awareness following a dominant three-match series victory against Zimbabwe. Sooryavanshi was named Player of the Series after accumulating 151 runs across the contest, including an 18-ball half-century in the opener and a match-winning 81 off 49 balls in the final game to secure a 3-0 clean sweep.

The teenager’s performance in Southern Africa stands in stark contrast to his difficult start to international cricket in England earlier this month. Sooryavanshi, the youngest player to represent India, registered scores of 14, 13, and 15 in his first three T20 internationals before being omitted from the fifth match. Laxman, who has monitored the left-hander’s progression from age-group cricket through the Indian Premier League to the senior national side, noted that the player’s ability to assess and improve from each experience was a key factor in his rapid recovery.

“Very mature. That’s what I really appreciate about Vaibhav,” Laxman told reporters in Zimbabwe. “With every experience and every match, he understands, assesses and gets better. He reviews every practice session, not just matches. His maturity, understanding and awareness over the last six months have skyrocketed. That’s why he’s been able to handle tough situations and perform under pressure against the best players.”

Laxman also highlighted Sooryavanshi’s eagerness to contribute to the team’s success, citing an incident during the final match where the teenager attempted a diving catch from deep square leg despite sustaining an injury. The coach noted that it was only after the physiotherapist intervened that Sooryavanshi was asked to leave the field, underscoring his earnestness and commitment to the squad.

While praising the teenager’s batting prowess and mental resilience, Laxman identified overall fitness as a critical area for future development. “The one area we want him to improve is his overall fitness,” the coach said, acknowledging that Sooryavanshi is still a young boy. “He himself wants to get better in every aspect of the game.”

Despite the early struggles in England, Laxman expressed full confidence in Sooryavanshi’s potential, stating he was not concerned by the initial setbacks. “I’m sure he will progress and break all the records at the international level. He’s got all the potential and ability to do that,” Laxman added, backing the fast-tracked star to build on his impressive start to his international career.