Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: England’s short-ball plan targets rookie. Former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel has warned that young opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi must prepare for consistent short-pitched bowling after England successfully targeted him in the T20I series. The teenager managed only 14 and 13 runs in the last two matches, struggling against England’s pace attack led by Jofra Archer.
Patel explained that teams had already noticed this weakness during the IPL and England’s strategy is no surprise. Speaking to JioHotstar, he said, Not just Jofra Archer, anyone who watched the IPL would not be surprised by this plan. It wasn’t just the wicket ball; the ball before it was also short. He added that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will face this challenge repeatedly in his international career, with bowlers delivering short balls above 145 km/h.
The former keeper also criticized India’s batting approach after being bowled out for 78 in the third T20I. He urged batters to show more patience in English conditions, where pitches and ground dimensions differ. You can afford to take one or two overs to get your eye in, Patel said, emphasizing the need for better game awareness.
India will now aim to bounce back in the fourth T20I, while England seeks to seal the series. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s ability to handle short-pitched bowling will be crucial for his development, as every team will test him with pace and bounce moving forward.