India's stand-in head coach VVS Laxman has praised teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for his rapid growth in maturity following the 15-year-old's outstanding performances during India's 3-0 T20I series sweep over Zimbabwe. Sooryavanshi finished the three-match series as the leading run-scorer with 151 runs at an average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 196.10, becoming the youngest player in international cricket history to win the Player of the Series award. His campaign ended on a high with a composed 81 off 49 balls in the third T20I, earning him the Player of the Match honour and helping India post a commanding total of 192/5.
Laxman said the youngster's success was the result of years of careful monitoring and development by the Indian cricket setup. He recalled first identifying Sooryavanshi around two-and-a-half years ago during a quadrangular tournament in Vijayawada, where the left-hander emerged as one of the top performers for India B. According to Laxman, the coaching staff's understanding of both the player and his personality has enabled them to provide the right mental support and preparation before matches, contributing significantly to his development.
The former India batter highlighted the remarkable improvement in Sooryavanshi's maturity over the past six months, describing it as one of the most impressive aspects of his progress. Laxman revealed that the teenager now reviews every practice session, not just his performances in matches, reflecting a strong desire to learn and improve continuously. He also praised Sooryavanshi's ability to adapt his game during the decisive third T20I, where he initially curbed his attacking instincts on a slow pitch before accelerating later in the innings to guide India to a match-winning score.
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The Zimbabwe series marked a significant turnaround for the young opener after a difficult introduction to international cricket earlier this month. Sooryavanshi became India's youngest-ever international debutant when he featured in the T20I series against England at the age of 15 years and 99 days. However, he struggled to make an impact, registering scores of 14, 13 and 15 in his first three appearances. His performances in Zimbabwe demonstrated both technical improvement and greater confidence against international bowling attacks.
Laxman also credited the Indian Premier League for helping Sooryavanshi prepare for the pressures of international cricket. He said the teenager had embraced high-pressure situations instead of being overwhelmed by them, adding that such exposure had accelerated his development. The coach further pointed to the youngster's determination during the Zimbabwe tour, recalling an incident in which Sooryavanshi wanted to continue playing despite sustaining an injury before the team physio insisted that he leave the field for treatment.
Reflecting on the series, Laxman described Sooryavanshi's match-winning knock in the final T20I as a "very mature innings" and expressed confidence that the youngster has the potential to achieve far greater milestones in the future. Although disappointed at missing out on a century, Sooryavanshi was encouraged by the coaching staff to view it as the beginning of a long international journey. Laxman, currently serving as India's stand-in head coach while Gautam Gambhir is on a short break, said the teenager possesses the attitude, mindset and ability required to continue improving and potentially break several international records in the years ahead.
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