VVS Laxman heaps praise on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for ‘very mature’ knock

Team India’s head coach on the Zimbabwe tour, VVS Laxman, heaped praise on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for playing a “very, very mature knock” in the third T20I on July 26, which helped India inflict a 3‑0 whitewash on Zimbabwe for the first time in the shortest format.

Laxman was delighted with the willingness Sooryavanshi has shown to learn on the job and the sheer effort he puts into every practice session with Team India.

“Very mature. That’s what I really appreciate about Vaibhav,” Laxman said after India’s emphatic win in the third T20I. “With every experience and every match, he understands, assesses, and gets better. He reviews every practice session, not just matches.

“What you saw today was a mature innings because it was a huge ground and the wicket was slow, with the ball stopping a bit. I thought the Zimbabwe bowlers had a plan against him today, and he countered that plan. It was a very, very mature knock from Vaibhav.”

Laxman felt that Sooryavanshi’s game awareness had “skyrocketed” in the last six months, and it has shown in terms of results on the field.

“He knows his game. For him, as with anyone, it’s just about minute adjustments in terms of skill. But what is really impressive is the way he’s evolved as a person,” Laxman elaborated. “His maturity, understanding, and awareness over the last six months have skyrocketed. That’s why he’s been able to handle tough situations and perform under pressure against the best players.”

Laxman emphasised the early identification of Sooryavanshi’s potential as the primary reason behind his meteoric rise after groundbreaking performances in age‑group cricket.

“We know Vaibhav very well,” Laxman said. “Around two‑and‑a‑half years ago, just before the 2024 Under‑19 World Cup, we identified him during the quadrangular series in Vijayawada, where he was one of the top scorers for India B. Since then, he has been part of various camps at the CoE and then became the highest run‑getter in the Under‑19 World Cup [2026].

“So we know him inside out. It’s not only the player, but also the person. When you know the person well, you understand what works for him and how to prepare him so that he’s in the best frame of mind going into a match.”

The one area Laxman and the team management want Sooryavanshi to improve is his overall fitness, though they are mindful of the fact that he is only 15.

“The one area we want him to improve is his overall fitness,” Laxman added. “He’s a very young boy. He himself wants to get better in every aspect of the game. Even today, when he got injured [while attempting a diving catch running in from deep square leg], he still wanted to stay on the field. It was our physio who asked him to come off. That’s the eagerness and earnestness he has to contribute in every possible way to the team.”

Laxman lauded Sooryavanshi’s attitude and the way he shrugged off the unpleasant memories of an underwhelming England tour, where he managed only a string of low scores after being asked to replace Sanju Samson.

“It was on expected lines,” Laxman said. “Even last year, when he played for Rajasthan Royals for the first time, the way he handled pressure was impressive. I believe any IPL match is equivalent to an international match. At 14 or 15, when you’re playing in the IPL, either you can be overawed by the occasion or embrace the pressure. I think he chose the second option.

“So I’m not surprised by the way this series has gone. He was disappointed not to get a hundred, but we told him it’s not going to be the first or the last opportunity he’ll get. He’s got a long career ahead, and he has the attitude and mindset to improve every day. I’m sure he will progress and break all the records at the international level. He’s got all the potential and ability to do that.”