The international debut of Vaibhav Suryavanshi has emerged as one of the biggest talking points of India’s tour of Zimbabwe after his dream start. The 15-year-old batting sensation made an immediate impact against the hosts, playing fearless knocks throughout the three-match T20I series and finishing as the Player of the Series. His remarkable performances came just months after a record-breaking IPL 2026 campaign with Rajasthan Royals (RR), further establishing him as one of India’s brightest young talents.
Following India’s successful tour, Suryavanshi opened up about the support he received from the team management and senior players, revealing that the confidence shown in him before the series played a major role in helping him perform without pressure.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi opens up on VVS Laxman’s guidance
Speaking in a video shared by the BCCI after the conclusion of the Zimbabwe series, Suryavanshi expressed his gratitude to stand-in head coach VVS Laxman and the coaching staff for allowing him to stay true to his natural game instead of asking him to change his aggressive approach.
The youngster revealed that Laxman spent time understanding his mindset before the series and encouraged him to play with complete freedom, a message that gave him immense confidence heading into his senior India debut. The 15-year-old justified that faith by scoring 151 runs across three matches, including brilliant innings of 50 and 81, helping India dominate the series while earning the Player of the Series award.
“Playing for senior India and winning the Player of the Match and Player of the Series, that dream has come true, and I am very happy. I would like to thank everyone who supported me on my journey. The way our head coach, VVS sir, and Hrishi sir spoke to me before the matches, they discussed a lot with me about what I was feeling before the series started and what mindset I was in. They gave me a free hand and told me to just play freely and not overthink,” Suryavanshi said.
Youngster thanks senior teammates for making him feel at home
Apart from acknowledging the coaching staff, Suryavanshi also highlighted the role played by the senior members of the Indian dressing room in making his transition to international cricket smooth. He said the experienced players never made him feel like a newcomer, allowing him to settle into the squad quickly. The left-handed batter reserved special praise for wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, revealing that their shared roots in Bihar helped them develop an instant connection during the tour.
“The seniors around me also make me feel that I am never alone or that I have just come into the senior team. It always feels like I have been playing matches everywhere in that way. And Ishan bhai, since he is also from Bihar like me, the vibe matches,” he added.
