Vaibhav Sooryavanshi thanked VVS Laxman and Hrishikesh Kanitkar for giving him the freedom to play naturally after winning Player of the Series in Zimbabwe.
India's Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during the third T20I match between India and Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Sunday, July 26, 2026. (Photo: IANS/X/@BCCI)
Teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi credited India’s interim head coach VVS Laxman and batting coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar for giving him the freedom to play his natural game after being named Player of the Series in India’s 3-0 T20I sweep of Zimbabwe.
“Being Player of the Series for the senior Indian team is a dream come true for me. I am very happy and would like to thank everyone who supported me in my journey, especially the seniors and the coaching staff,” Sooryavanshi said in a video shared by the BCCI.
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The 15-year-old revealed that Laxman and Kanitkar spent time understanding his mindset before the series and encouraged him to play without pressure.
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“The way VVS sir and Hrishikesh sir spoke to me before the series, they discussed how I was feeling and what mindset I was in. They gave me a free hand and told me to just play and not think about anything.”
The youngster also highlighted the role of wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, saying their shared roots in Bihar helped him settle quickly into the senior dressing room.
“I don’t feel that I am alone or that I am in a senior team. It feels like I play all the matches everywhere. Ishan bhaiya is also from Bihar, so the vibe matches.”
Sooryavanshi finished the series as its standout batter, scoring 151 runs in three innings, including a match-winning 81 off 49 balls in the third T20I after smashing a 19-ball half-century in the series opener.
His performances marked a remarkable turnaround after managing just 42 runs in three innings during India’s preceding tour of England.
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