Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became the youngest player to win the Men’s Player of the Series award, adding yet another milestone to his stellar start in international cricket. The 15-year-old achieved the feat after a stellar performance in India’s 3-0 T20I series sweep against Zimbabwe in Harare. Sooryavanshi became the leading run-scorer in the series with 151 runs in three innings and ended the season with a 49-ball 81 in the final T20I. The left-handed opener showed impressive adaptability throughout the series. In the first match, Suryavanshi scored 50 runs off just 18 balls, but in the decider, he played a more cautious innings on a subdued pitch. He scored 81 runs, including 8 fours and 4 sixes, to help India post a score of 192/5 before the visitors registered a 35-run victory. His consistent performances across three games earned him the Player of the Series award, making him the youngest recipient of the award in men’s international cricket. Speaking after winning the award, Soriyavanshi praised his preparations for the success of the series. “I try to replicate what I do in training,” he said. “After the England tour, I had a good preparation time and I am eager to score runs for the team and contribute to a series victory. It is my dream to do that for India.” The award marks a major turnaround for the teenager, who endured a difficult maiden international series in England earlier this month. After replacement Sachin Tendulkar The youngest men’s international cricketer from India, Sooryavanshi scored 14, 13 and 15 runs in the T20I series against England but was eventually run out and India lost the series 4-0. However, the selectors insisted on keeping the young batsman on the tour of Zimbabwe, backing him to rediscover the form that made him one of India’s most promising players. Their faith paid off and Suryavanshi was dominant at Harare Sports Club, having made headlines earlier this year with his stunning 80-ball 175 against England in the Under-19 World Cup final. His latest achievement further highlights his meteoric rise, with the teenager not only playing a decisive role in India’s series victory but also going down in history as the youngest ever series winner in men’s international cricket.
