VVS Laxman backs Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to break international records after Zimbabwe series heroics

India interim coach VVS Laxman praised 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's maturity after his Player of the Series-winning performances against Zimbabwe, saying the teenager has the temperament, talent and work ethic to become one of India's biggest stars and break international cricket records.

Harare: India’s interim head coach VVS Laxman has lauded teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s “very mature” performance in the third T20I against Zimbabwe, adding that the 15-year-old’s ability to learn from every experience has fuelled his rapid rise and backed him to “break all the records” at the international level.

Sooryavanshi, who was named the Player of the Series in India’s 3-0 triumph over Zimbabwe, top-scored with a 49-ball 81 to help India post 192/5 on a slow pitch at the Harare Sports Club after hitting his half-century in international cricket in the series opener.

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“Very mature. And that’s what I really appreciate about Vaibhav. With each and every experience, each and every match, he understands, he assesses and he gets better. I think he does a lot of review of each and every practice session, not only matches.

“What you saw was a mature innings because it was a difficult wicket. The ball was stopping and coming, the wicket was slow. I thought the Zimbabweans bowled well and had a plan for him. He countered that plan and it was a very, very mature knock from Vaibhav,” Laxman said at the conclusion of the series.

He also noted that Sooryavanshi’s stellar performances during the series came as no surprise, pointing to the temperament he demonstrated during his breakout season in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) with the Rajasthan Royals (RR).

“It was on expected lines. Last year when he played for Rajasthan Royals for the first time, the way he handled pressure… I believe that any IPL match is equivalent to an international match.

“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. I think he’s taken the second option where he embraced the pressure. So I’m not at all surprised (by) the way this series has gone,” he added.

Though Sooryavanshi was visibly disappointed after missing out on his maiden international hundred, Laxman revealed the team management reassured him about his long-term future. “He was disappointed not to get a hundred. 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 a hundred.

“He’s got a long career. 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, who also heads the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, gave a ringside view on Sooryavanshi’s swift progression from age-group cricket to high-profile competitive stages. “If you see someone like Vaibhav, he just played the 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 bowlers from not only India but around the world, the way he evolved and the way he progressed as an international cricketer showed what kind of potential, class and talent he has.

“I think we are very fortunate that we have got a lot of depth in our ecosystem. For the next five to 10 years, we’ve got a lot of quality players who will take Indian cricket forward.”

Having tracked Sooryavanshi’s growth closely for over two years at the CoE, Laxman shared that his personal understanding with him has helped in shaping his preparation. “We know Vaibhav very well. It was about two and a half years ago that we first identified him, just before the 2024 Under-19 World Cup. He was part of the quadrangular series in Vijayawada and was one of the top scorers for India B.

“Since then, he has been in various camps at the CoE and then he was the highest run-getter in the Under-19 World Cup. So we know him in and out. It’s not only the player, but we also know the person. When you know the person, you understand what works for him and how we prepare him so that he’s in the best frame of mind when he goes into a match. He knows his game.”

While technical refinements have been minimal, Laxman feels Sooryavanshi’s main progress has been off the pitch in terms of awareness and personal maturity. “As I tell not only Vaibhav but anyone, it’s just about minute adjustments as far as the skill is concerned. But 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. That’s why he’s been able to handle tough situations and perform under pressure against the best players.”

Addressing areas for development, Laxman signed off by saying that fitness remains a work in progress. “One of the areas which we want him to get better at is his overall fitness. 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.

“If you saw today’s game, even after he got injured, he still wanted to be on the field. It was our physio who actually asked him to come out. That’s the eagerness and the earnestness he has to contribute in every possible way to the team.”