India’s teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi announced his arrival on the international stage in emphatic fashion, winning both the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards after starring in India’s 3-0 T20I series sweep over Zimbabwe in Harare. Sooryavanshi finished as India’s highest run-scorer in the series with 151 runs in three innings, blending fearless strokeplay with remarkable composure beyond his years. His performances earned him his first-ever international Player of the Match award and maiden Player of the Series honour, a fitting reward after dominating Zimbabwe’s bowling attack throughout the series.Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s Series Performance
- 1st T20I: 50 off 19 balls (18-ball fifty, 4 fours, 4 sixes)
- 2nd T20I: 20 off 9 balls
- 3rd T20I: 81 off 49 balls (8 fours, 4 sixes)
‘Dream Come True,’ Says Sooryavanshi
Speaking after receiving both awards at the post-match presentation, the youngster described the moment as the fulfilment of a lifelong ambition.
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“It felt really good. Our preparation was very good during the two or three days after we arrived in Harare. I also played the Under-19 World Cup here, so I really enjoy playing at this venue, everyone backed me, the captain, the coaches, everyone, so I’m very happy,” Sooryvanashi said. Known for his attacking style, Sooryavanshi said he never changed his natural game despite making the step up to international cricket.“My game is the same as what I play in T20 cricket. I was just trying to do that for the team. In all three matches, I tried to give the team a good start. If I got a good start, then I wanted to make the innings bigger. That was my only approach. What I do in practice, I try to replicate it in the match as well. Dream come true, my first Player of the Match and Player of the Series!” Sooryavanshi added.
India beat Zimbabwe by 35 runs
India completed a 3-0 T20I series sweep over Zimbabwe with a convincing 35-run victory in the third and final match at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday. Defending 192, the visitors restricted Zimbabwe to 157/7, handing skipper Shreyas Iyer his first T20I series win since taking over the captaincy.The chase got off to the worst possible start for Zimbabwe as Mayank Yadav dismissed Brian Bennett with the very first ball of the innings. Yash Thakur then struck twice in the fourth over, removing Dion Myers and Sikandar Raza, leaving the hosts reeling.Ryan Burl fought a lone battle with an unbeaten 54 off 43 balls, while Wessly Madhevere contributed 28. However, regular wickets prevented Zimbabwe from threatening India’s total. Mayank Yadav finished with 3 wickets, Yash Thakur claimed 2, while Ravi Bishnoi and Ashok Sharma chipped in with one each.Earlier, India posted 192/5 after electing to bat, thanks largely to a sensational 81 off 49 balls from 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The teenage opener smashed eight fours and four sixes, registering his second T20I half-century before falling 19 runs short of a maiden century.Ishan Kishan scored 29, Shreyas Iyer added 27, and Rinku Singh’s unbeaten 25 off 14 balls provided the finishing flourish. For Zimbabwe, Brad Evans was the standout bowler with 2/41.The victory marked India’s third successive T20I win, completing a dominant clean sweep after difficult tours of Ireland and England, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi finishing as the leading run-scorer of the series.
