Young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi once again impressed with his aggressive batting, earning praise from former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin after India’s Under-19 match against Afghanistan A in Dambulla.
After scoring 14 against Sri Lanka A in the opening game of the tri-series, Sooryavanshi made a much bigger impact against Afghanistan A. Opening the innings, he struck two boundaries off the first two balls he faced and immediately put the bowlers under pressure.
The 15-year-old played several eye-catching shots and raced to 44 from just 22 balls. His innings included nine boundaries before he edged a delivery from Abdullah Ahmadzai to wicketkeeper Ishaq Rahimi.
Although he missed out on a half-century, his attacking knock drew praise from Ashwin. The former off-spinner highlighted that the innings was not just about power hitting. He pointed to Sooryavanshi’s timing and shot-making, especially through the covers, and described him as a special young talent.
This is not the first time Ashwin has spoken highly of Sooryavanshi. During IPL 2026, he repeatedly backed the teenager. Sooryavanshi enjoyed a remarkable IPL season with the Rajasthan Royals. He finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer, winning the Orange Cap after making 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.3.
Ashwin had earlier called him a “box-office player” and said he has the ability to entertain fans in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. He also felt the youngster should be allowed to develop without carrying too much responsibility at such an early stage of his career.
Sooryavanshi has already earned a place in India’s upcoming white-ball squads for tours of Ireland and England. In doing so, he broke the record of Sachin Tendulkar to become the youngest player selected in an Indian squad.
Sanjay Manjrekar Hails Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as a Future ODI Star After Afghanistan A Knock
Former India batter and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has joined the growing list of admirers of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. This praise comes in the wake of the youngster’s explosive knock against Afghanistan A.
Sooryavanshi scored 44 off just 22 balls in the Under-19 tri-series in Dambulla. The innings caught plenty of attention because it came in conditions very different from those he experienced during IPL 2026.
Manjrekar noted that the pitches in Sri Lanka have not been as batting-friendly as the surfaces often seen in the IPL. He was impressed by how comfortably the teenager adapted to the 50-over format and different playing conditions.
The former batter said Sooryavanshi is much more than a T20 specialist. He believes the left-hander has the talent to become a major force in one-day cricket as well and described him as a special talent.
The praise adds to the support Sooryavanshi has already received from former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. His rise has been rapid. His breakthrough came during IPL 2026 with the Rajasthan Royals. He finished as the tournament’s highest run-scorer.
The teenager amassed 776 runs and won the Orange Cap. He scored at a remarkable strike rate of 237.30 and emerged as one of the biggest stories of the season.
Those performances earned him his maiden India call-up for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England. He has also been named in India’s squad for the Asian Games.
How Afghanistan A Dismissed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Despite His Blistering 44 in Dambulla
India A opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi once again showed his talent with an aggressive innings against Afghanistan A in Dambulla. However, his stay ended in a familiar manner.
The 15-year-old raced to 44 from just 22 balls. His innings included nine boundaries. He looked set for a maiden half-century before falling to a short ball outside off stump.
Afghanistan pacer Abdollah Ahmadzai appeared to have a clear plan. He bowled from around the wicket and tried to restrict Sooryavanshi’s room. Earlier in the spell, he had already beaten the bat and found an edge.
The breakthrough eventually came with a well-directed bouncer. The delivery was outside off stump and rose sharply. Sooryavanshi went for an upper cut but only managed a faint edge through to the wicketkeeper.
Despite the dismissal, Afghanistan struggled to contain him. Their bowlers did not concede a six, but Sooryavanshi still scored freely.
What stood out was his shot selection. He did not rely only on power. He was willing to wait for the ball and play it late. Several boundaries came through gaps on the off side.
One of his best shots was a back-foot cover drive. He got on top of the bounce and punched the ball through the covers with ease. The innings also showed another side of his game. This knock highlighted his timing and placement.
FAQs
Q. How many runs did Vaibhav Sooryavanshi score?
A. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored 44 runs from just 22 balls.
Q. What did Ravichandran Ashwin say?
A. Ashwin praised his timing and shot-making. He described him as a special young talent.
Q. How was Vaibhav Sooryavanshi dismissed?
A. Sooryavanshi was caught behind after edging a short ball outside off stump.
Q. Why did Sanjay Manjrekar praise Sooryavanshi?
A. Manjrekar was impressed by how well he adapted to Sri Lankan conditions.
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