Vaibhav Sooryavanshi earned the Player-of-the-Series award in Zimbabwe T20Is.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has successfully translated his prodigious domestic talent into international success, prompting high praise from India's stand-in head coach VVS Laxman.
Following India's dominant 3-0 T20I series sweep against Zimbabwe in Harare, Laxman lauded the 15-year-old batting sensation's game awareness and maturity.
The interim coach emphasized that the teenager’s technical skill required only "minute adjustments," whereas his true transformation has been mental, enabling him to remain unfazed on grand stages.
Sooryavanshi failed to make a mark in his debut T20I series against England earlier this month, registering scores of 14, 13 and 15. However, the young prodigy silenced his critics by bagging the Player-of-the-Series award versus Zimbabwe.
"What is really impressive is the way he's evolved as a person. The maturity level, the understanding, and the awareness over the last six months has actually skyrocketed. And that's why he's been able to handle tough situations," Laxman said after the third T20I at Harare Sports Club.
Sooryavanshi amassed 151 runs at a strike rate of 196.10 on the tour of Zimbabwe, including two half-centuries in three innings.
"He played Under-19 World Cup and in a matter of four to five months, he dominated the IPL. We know how tough IPL competition can be."
"Taking on the best of bowlers from not only India but around the world, the way he evolved, the way he progressed as an international cricketer and he showed what kind of potential and class and talent he has," Laxman added.
Laxman further highlighted Sooryavanshi's hunger to improve was evident in his attitude throughout the series, recalling an incident where the youngster, despite being injured, was keen to stay on the field and contribute to the team.
"We have to also remember that he's just 15 years old. He's a very young boy. And he himself wants to get better in every aspect of the game. And if you see it, even today's game, he was taking the hot spot."
"Even though he got injured, he still wanted to be on the field. But it was our physio who actually asked him to come out. So, that's the eagerness and the earnestness he has to do and contribute in every possible way to the team," said Laxman.
Having seen Sooryavanshi's heroics in the IPL 2026 season for Rajasthan Royals, Laxman had no doubts in the teenager’s ability to bounce back after an underwhelming start to his international career in England.
"It (performance) was on expected lines. Again, last year when he played for Rajasthan Royals for the first time, I think the way he handled pressure, because I believe that any IPL match is equivalent to an international match."
"And at the age of 14 or 15, when you're playing an IPL match, either you can be overawed by the big occasion or absorb and embrace the pressure. And I think he's taken the second option where he embraced the pressure. So, I'm not at all surprised the way this series has gone."
While Sooryavanshi was disappointed after missing out on a century in the final T20I, the youngster was reminded by the team management that he has a long career ahead with plenty of opportunities.
"He was disappointed not to get 100. But we mentioned to him that it's not going to be the first time or the last time he'll get an opportunity to score 100. He's got a long career."
"And he's got the attitude and the mindset to get better each and every day. And I'm sure that he will just progress and break all the records at the international level. He's got all the potential and the ability to do that."
Laxman expressed confidence that India's robust cricketing ecosystem and talent pipeline would continue to produce high-quality players over the next decade.
"We are very fortunate that we have got a lot of depth in our ecosystem. And I think, I feel for the next five to 10 years, we've got a lot of quality players who will take Indian cricket forward. I think we know Vaibhav very well."
(With PTI Inputs)