Harare: India captain Shreyas Iyer has showered praise on teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after the 15 year old produced a breathtaking maiden T20I half century to power India to a convincing win over Zimbabwe in the opening match of the three match series.
Playing only his fourth international match, Sooryavanshi showcased the fearless approach that has made him one of the most exciting young talents in world cricket. Chasing a target of 126, the left handed opener raced to his fifty in just 18 balls, smashing four boundaries and four sixes. His explosive innings laid the foundation for India’s comfortable chase, which was completed in under 14 overs.
Speaking after the match, Iyer described the youngster’s batting as exceptional and praised his confidence and aggressive mindset.
The India skipper noted that Sooryavanshi was familiar with the conditions, having previously scored 175 in an Under 19 final at the same venue. According to Iyer, those experiences have given the teenager immense confidence whenever he steps onto the field, making his impressive start to the series even more encouraging.
The victory also marked Iyer’s first win as India’s T20I captain after beginning his leadership stint with seven matches without a victory. He expressed delight with the team’s overall performance, saying the players executed their plans brilliantly throughout the contest.
Iyer also credited the pace attack for making the most of the lively conditions, with Mayank Yadav providing an outstanding opening spell that restricted Zimbabwe’s scoring opportunities. India reduced the hosts to 32 for 4 before Zimbabwe recovered through useful partnerships to post 122 for 7.
Explaining why he rotated his bowlers despite Zimbabwe’s recovery, Iyer said it was important to give every player an opportunity to settle into the series. He added that allowing bowlers and batters to contribute in different situations would help build confidence ahead of the remaining two matches.
India’s dominant performance, combined with Sooryavanshi’s explosive knock and the bowlers’ disciplined display, handed the visitors a perfect start to the series while underlining the depth of their emerging talent.
