Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has already made Harare his happy hunting ground. Earlier this year, the teenager lit up the city during the Under-19 World Cup. On Sunday, he returned to script another memorable chapter, capping a sensational Zimbabwe tour by claiming both the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards after inspiring India to victory in the third T20I.
The 15-year-old opener produced a breathtaking 81 off 49 balls, peppered with eight fours and four sixes, as India completed a commanding 3-0 series sweep. After announcing himself with a blistering 50 off just 19 deliveries in the opening match to become the youngest batter to score a men’s T20I half-century, Sooryavanshi signed off with his highest international score in the decider.
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His two match-winning knocks also made him the first player in men’s T20I history to register multiple half-centuries before turning 16, completing a remarkable turnaround after a difficult tour of England.
“Yes, it’s truly a dream come true moment. Getting my first Man of the Match and Man of the Series awards, I’m very happy,” Sooryavanshi said after the match.
“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.”
HARARE CONTINUES TO BRING THE BEST OUT IN SOORYAVANSHI
The Zimbabwe tour served as a reminder of the teenager’s immense talent after a testing stint in England, where he scored only 42 runs at an average of 14.
Earlier this year, Harare was where the left-hander announced himself to the cricketing world during the ICC Under-19 World Cup. He smashed a breathtaking 175 against England in the final, guiding India to the title, before finishing as the tournament’s Player of the Series.
That familiarity was evident throughout the senior T20I series. Whether it was his half-century in the opener or his 81 in the decider, Sooryavanshi looked completely at home on the Harare surface.
The youngster admitted returning to Harare gave him an added sense of comfort, while also crediting the Indian dressing room for the unwavering support it showed him.
“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,” he added.
Sooryavanshi finished the three-match T20I series with 151 runs at an average of 50.33 and a strike-rate of 196.10. The Zimbabwe tour also continued what has been a remarkable 2026 for the teenage sensation.
From finishing as the leading run-scorer in IPL 2026 to becoming India’s youngest international debutant and now sweeping the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards in Zimbabwe, Sooryavanshi’s rise has been as rapid as it has been remarkable.
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