Vaibhav Sooryavanshi threat: Afghanistan turn to IPL experience to tackle Indian opener

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will be one of the players Afghanistan will have to keep a close eye on when they face India in the first T20I of the three-match series on Sunday. The 15-year-old opener has already made a strong impression in the IPL, and Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran admitted that his team has prepared for the challenge he presents.

Afghanistan have sought inputs from players who have faced Sooryavanshi in the IPL and have also studied videos of the teenager to understand his batting. Zadran, however, said his side would focus on executing its plans rather than getting caught up in the hype surrounding India’s young star.

“He is an amazing talent. He performed really well in the IPL, and he has been performing across different levels of competitions. We talked about him, and we have that knowledge from the guys who played against him in the IPL,” Zadran said at the pre-match press conference on Saturday.

“We have watched his videos. We will try to keep it simple for ourselves and will look to execute our plans,” he added.

Sooryavanshi heads into the series after a productive Duleep Trophy campaign with East Zone. He scored 192 runs in five innings across three matches, including a crucial 92 in the semifinal against Central Zone.

The Duleep Trophy campaign also offered Sooryavanshi an opportunity to showcase his game in red-ball cricket, but it is the T20 format that has made him one of the most closely watched young cricketers in India. His performances in the IPL announced his arrival on the big stage, with his aggressive approach and ability to score quickly earning widespread attention.

Afghanistan, meanwhile, will look to their experience of playing in Indian conditions as they begin the series against Shreyas Iyer’s side. Zadran believes that familiarity with the conditions, built through years of playing in India and at major tournaments, will help his team.

“We know the conditions really well. We just need to execute the plan according to the situation,” he said.

The series is also an important test for Zadran in his first full stint as Afghanistan’s T20I captain. He took over the leadership role from Rashid Khan earlier this year after previously serving as his deputy.

“It’s a big responsibility for me. As a player and captain, I’m trying to enjoy it, take responsibility and make the right decisions in pressure situations,” Zadran said.

Rather than focusing on the result, Zadran wants Afghanistan to stay committed to their process and give their best throughout the three-match series.

“We just try to give 100 per cent and think about the process. Hopefully, we’re going to have a good series,” he added.

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