Sooryavanshi scored 45 off 19 balls in the third T20I against New Zealand.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi played a blistering knock during India’s six-wicket victory over New Zealand in the third T20I at Wellington on Tuesday (October 27).
Restored to his preferred opening position after a quiet outing at number 3 in the previous game, the 15-year-old prodigy smashed 45 runs off just 19 balls, striking at an explosive 236.84. His ruthless innings included 4 fours and 4 sixes.
Partnership Abhishek Sharma (113 off 38), the duo helped India register the highest Powerplay total in men's T20I history -- 118/0. They added 133 runs for the opening wicket in just 7.1 overs, allowing the visitors to chase down the target of 199 with 40 balls to spare.
After the game, former India cricketer Irfan Pathan attributed Sooryavanshi’s immense power-hitting capabilities to an excellent bat flow, distinct hip-shoulder separation, and a highly stable head position despite dynamic body movement.
“You should never underestimate his bat flow. He generates such power that even a strong 30-year-old is not able to. He is able to do it because of the way his bat moves, and there is separation of hip and shoulder. There is so much movement in his body, but his head still remains stable," Pathan said on his YouTube channel.
India began the chase in an aggressive manner, with Sooryavanshi and Abhisek scoring 26 runs in the opening over bowled by Jacob Duffy.
"He hit a big shot on the first ball and gave a direct statement to New Zealand that I may be a 15-year-old, but don't think of me as a kid; I will attack you. When you score more than 20 runs in the first over itself, you directly put the opposition on the back foot. So, that first punch from Vaibhav was very important," Pathan added.
Sooryavanshi’s innings may have made Pathan’s birthday sweeter, but he will still prefer Sanju Samson at the top of the order to maintain the left-hand and right-hand combination.
"My birthday went great seeing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi bat. It was sweeter than the cake. I don’t prefer two left-handers opening, which is why I wanted Sanju to open and Vaibhav coming at three and trying to adapt. But it is not easy for a young kid," he remarked.
With this victory, India secured an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-T20I series. The penultimate match will be played in Auckland on Friday (October 30).