Vaibhav Sooryavanshi added another milestone to his remarkable start in international cricket after becoming the youngest player to win a Player of the Series award in men’s international cricket. The 15-year-old achieved the feat after starring in India’s 3-0 T20I series sweep over Zimbabwe in Harare. Sooryavanshi finished as the leading run-scorer of the series with 151 runs in three innings and capped off the campaign with a match-winning 81 off 49 balls in the final T20I. The left-handed opener showed impressive adaptability throughout the series. After announcing himself with a blistering 50 off just 18 balls in the opening match, Sooryavanshi produced a more measured innings in the decider on a sluggish pitch. His knock of 81, laced with eight fours and four sixes, powered India to 192/5 before the visitors completed a 35-run victory. His consistency across the three matches earned him the Player of the Series award, making him the youngest recipient of the honour in men’s international cricket. Speaking after receiving the award, Sooryavanshi credited his preparation for the successful series. “I try to replicate what I do in training,” he said. “I had good preparation time after the England tour and I am glad to score these runs for the team, and contribute to the series win. It was my dream to do it for India.” The award marked a significant turnaround for the teenager, who had endured a difficult maiden international series in England earlier this month. After replacing Sachin Tendulkar as India’s youngest men’s international cricketer, Sooryavanshi managed scores of 14, 13 and 15 in the T20I series against England before being left out of the final game, which India also lost to concede the series 4-0. However, the selectors persisted with the young batter for the Zimbabwe tour, backing him to rediscover the form that had made him one of India’s brightest prospects. Their faith was rewarded as Sooryavanshi dominated at the Harare Sports Club, a venue where he had already made headlines earlier this year with a stunning 175 off 80 balls against England in the Under-19 World Cup final. His latest achievement further underlined his rapid rise, with the teenager not only playing a decisive role in India’s series victory but also entering the record books as the youngest-ever Player of the Series winner in men’s international cricket.
