Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: Iyer backs young star after tough start. India captain Shreyas Iyer has thrown his full support behind teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ahead of the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. Iyer expressed confidence that the 15-year-old, who became India’s youngest-ever international cricketer during a challenging tour of England, has learned from his difficult introduction and is ready for a stronger impact. Speaking in Harare, Iyer noted the youngster has had time to reflect and improve.
Despite modest returns in England, where he was dropped for the fifth match, Iyer believes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has used the break productively. “All the youngsters, I think, they have definitely practiced. There was a decent gap. So he must have rectified where he went wrong,” Iyer said. The captain urged his young squad to play fearless cricket, saying they should not fear failure as it helps them perform better.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi admitted the last four months have been an emotional rollercoaster but insisted his confidence remains intact. “There have been ups and downs, but I have to follow the process and give my 100 per cent,” he told bcci.tv. He thanked the coaching staff for their support and said he feels confident. The Zimbabwe tour is special for him, as he smashed a stunning 175 off 80 balls against England in the Under-19 World Cup final at the same Harare venue just four months ago.
“It’s a very memorable ground for me. We won the U-19 World Cup final here,” he said. He plans to back his practice and contribute to the team’s success. With Iyer’s backing and his familiarity with the conditions, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is ready to make a meaningful impact in the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe.