Dambulla: Teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi showcased a more mature side of his game during India A’s tri-series clash against Afghanistan A, producing a fluent 44 off 22 balls to help India A post a formidable total of 349/9 in 49 overs.
While Sooryavanshi has built a reputation for fearless strokeplay and towering sixes, his latest innings stood out for a different reason. The 15-year-old struck nine boundaries but did not hit a single six, demonstrating his adaptability in conditions that offered greater assistance to bowlers than the batting-friendly surfaces he encountered during the IPL.
Aggressive start sets the tone
Dambulla witnessed an aggressive start from India A after Afghanistan A elected to bowl first. Opening the innings, Sooryavanshi wasted little time in asserting himself, cutting Mohammad Ibrahim for boundaries off his first two deliveries.
The youngster consistently punished anything loose and displayed excellent timing through the off-side. Wide deliveries were dispatched to the boundary, while short balls were confidently played through gaps, preventing the Afghan bowlers from settling into a rhythm.
His attacking approach provided India A with early momentum during the PowerPlay and laid the foundation for a substantial total.
Adaptability impresses observers
Unlike many of his recent innings characterised by six-hitting, Sooryavanshi relied primarily on placement, timing and shot selection.
All nine boundaries came along the ground, highlighting his ability to adjust his game according to conditions. The innings offered evidence that the young batter possesses the technique and temperament required to succeed beyond the shortest format of the game.
His knock eventually ended on 44 when a short ball from Abdullah Ahmadzai cramped him for room. Attempting to guide the delivery fine, Sooryavanshi edged behind to wicketkeeper Ishaq Rahimi.
Although disappointed at falling short of a half-century, the youngster had already made a significant impact.
Manjrekar praises young talent
Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar was among those impressed by Sooryavanshi’s performance.
Commenting on social media, Manjrekar noted that conditions in Sri Lanka were considerably different from those experienced in the IPL and expressed excitement about watching the youngster adapt to varying challenges.
He also suggested that Sooryavanshi possesses the qualities required to excel in one-day cricket and not just the T20 format.
Strong batting effort powers India A
While Sooryavanshi provided the early impetus, India A’s commanding total was built on contributions throughout the batting order.
Prabhsimran Singh top-scored with 84, while Ruturaj Gaikwad and captain Tilak Varma registered half-centuries.
The collective effort helped India A reach 349/9, underlining the depth and strength of the batting line-up.
More than just a power hitter
Dambulla’s innings may ultimately be remembered not for its size but for what it revealed about Sooryavanshi’s evolving game.
Having earned attention for his extraordinary six-hitting exploits, the teenager demonstrated that he can also succeed through intelligent shot selection, patience and adaptability when conditions demand a different approach.
As he continues his development, performances such as this are likely to strengthen belief that he has the potential to become a complete batter across all formats of the game.