Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continued his dream start to international cricket by creating history in the third T20I against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday. The 15-year-old smashed a brilliant 81 off 49 balls to become only the second player in men’s T20I history to score half-centuries in each of his first two international innings.
After announcing himself on the world stage with a blazing half-century on debut in the opening T20I, Sooryavanshi followed it up with another outstanding knock, converting his start into a career-best 81. His innings, studded with eight fours and four sixes, laid the foundation for India’s imposing total of 192/5 after captain Shreyas Iyer opted to bat first.
With the innings, Sooryavanshi joined an exclusive list featuring only South Africa’s Richard Levi. Levi had scored an unbeaten 117 on debut against New Zealand in 2012 before following it up with 51 in his second T20I innings. Sooryavanshi is now only the second player to achieve the feat and the first Indian to score fifties in each of his first two T20I innings.
The young left-hander looked composed from the very beginning despite India losing an early wicket. Mixing fearless strokeplay with remarkable maturity, he brought up his half-century in just 31 balls before accelerating further in the middle overs. He appeared set for a memorable maiden international century before falling for 81 in the 15th over, mistiming a lofted drive off Wessly Madhevere to long-off, where Brad Evans completed the catch.
Despite missing out on a hundred, the innings once again showcased why Sooryavanshi is regarded as one of India’s brightest batting prospects. Earlier in the series, he had become the youngest player to score a T20I half-century on debut, and he has now added another unique record to his growing list of achievements.
India built around Sooryavanshi’s fluent innings to post a challenging total of 192/5 in the series finale.
The back-to-back half-centuries have further strengthened Sooryavanshi’s credentials as one of India’s most exciting young talents. Just two innings into his international career, the teenager has already etched his name into the record books, underlining both his immense talent and his ability to perform on the biggest stage.
