Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi capped off an impressive tour of Zimbabwe with a scintillating 81 off 49 balls in the third T20I in Harare on Sunday. The 15-year-old looked destined for a maiden international century before Wesley Madhevere ended his brilliant innings, denying him a place in the record books.
Opening the innings, Sooryavanshi was aggressive from the outset, dispatching Sikandar Raza for boundaries in the opening over before taking on Zimbabwe’s pace attack with fearless strokeplay. He mixed timing with power, peppering the boundary with eight fours and four sixes while racing to his second T20I half-century in just 31 balls.
India vs Zimbabwe, 3rd T20I: Updates | Scorecard
The youngster appeared in complete control as he dismantled both the seamers and spinners. He lofted Raza for a towering 102-metre six, unfurled a reverse sweep against Madhevere and repeatedly found the gaps with crisp drives and cuts. By the end of the 15th over, he had surged into the 80s and looked well on course to become the youngest player to score a T20I century.
However, his dream innings came to an end on the final ball of the 15th over. Attempting another big hit off Madhevere, Sooryavanshi miscued a lofted shot towards long-off, where Brad Evans sprinted forward and completed a superb low diving catch. Had he reached three figures, the Indian prodigy would have become the youngest centurion in T20I history and only the second 15-year-old, after Rwanda Women’s Fanny Utagushimaninde, to score a T20I hundred.
SOORYAVANSHI ENDS ZIMBABWE TOUR ON A HIGH
Although he missed out on a landmark century, Sooryavanshi’s innings underlined the immense talent that has made him one of India’s brightest young prospects. The left-hander had endured a disappointing tour of England earlier this month, managing just 42 runs in three matches, but he bounced back emphatically in Zimbabwe.
Across three T20Is, Sooryavanshi amassed 121 runs at an average of 71.50 and a strike rate of 171.60. He announced himself with a blistering 18-ball half-century in the series opener before producing his finest knock in the final match. More importantly, the tour showcased his fearless intent and ability to dominate quality bowling despite his age.
While the century will have to wait, Sooryavanshi’s sparkling knock ensured he signed off from Zimbabwe with renewed confidence and plenty of promise. The youngster may have fallen 19 runs short of a historic milestone, but his fearless batting once again suggested that bigger records are only a matter of time.
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