What performance did Vaibhav Sooryavanshi have in the recent series against Zimbabwe?

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was named Player of the Series in the contest against Zimbabwe, scoring 50, 20, and 81 runs in three matches.

Why is Afghanistan's captain Ibrahim Zadran confident about facing Sooryavanshi?

Ibrahim Zadran expressed confidence as several players in his squad have faced Sooryavanshi in the IPL, giving them knowledge of his playing style. They have also reviewed his videos to prepare.

How is Shreyas Iyer handling the decision of selecting openers for the first T20I against Afghanistan?

Shreyas Iyer acknowledged the difficulty of deciding between Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for the opening spots, highlighting the need for careful consideration based on recent performances.

Afghanistan watching Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's videos, plans ready for 15-year-old: ‘We have knowledge’

Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran said that his team has its plans ready for the 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

Updated on: Sep 13, 2026, 06:02:41 IST

Written by Vishesh Roy

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Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran isn't sweating much over 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, saying that his team has its plans ready come the first T20I against India on Sunday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The left-handed batter was recently adjudged as Player of the Series in the contest against Zimbabwe, but one doesn't know whether he would feature in the playing XI for the opener, considering Sanju Samson is also a part of the squad.

Ibrahim Zadran said that his team has its plans ready for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. (PTI)

Sooryavanshi recently also featured in the Duleep Trophy final, which his team, East Zone, won after outclassing South Zone on the basis of a first innings lead. Earlier this year, the youngster earned a national call-up on the back of a phenomenal IPL, in which he scored 776 runs for the Rajasthan Royals.

However, his first outing in international cricket did not go as planned, and he was even dropped from the playing XI after three below-par scores. However, he played all three matches against Zimbabwe and opened the batting alongside Abhishek Sharma. He then returned with scores of 50, 20 and 81.

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Also Read: Shreyas Iyer admits to having to make ‘tough call’ between Samson, Abhishek and Sooryavanshi: ‘Player sitting out…’

Zadran said that several players in his squad have faced Sooryavanshi in the IPL, and hence they have good knowledge of the promising player.

“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,” said Zadran in 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.

Captaincy factor

Earlier this year, Zadran was appointed as Afghanistan's captain, taking over the reins from Rashid Khan. Ahead of the series opener against India, he said he is warming up to the role and that his communication and understanding with Rashid would stand him in good stead.

"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," he said.

"We know the conditions really well. We just need to execute the plan as the situation warrants. We just try to give 100 per cent and think about the process. Hopefully, we're going to have a good series," he added.

This is the first time that Afghanistan are hosting India and the Shreyas Iyer-led side would occupy the away dressing room at the Arun Jaitley Stadium for all three T20Is.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vishesh Roy
Vishesh Roy is a sports journalist with a strong focus on cricket. He began his career at Asian News International (ANI), where he covered a range of high-profile events, including the India Open, Legends Cricket League, the England–India Test series in Ahmedabad in 2021, and the inauguration of the Narendra Modi Stadium. During his tenure at ANI, he also reported extensively on domestic cricket, covering several Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy matches across the country. While cricket remains his primary beat, Vishesh has also reported on tennis, football and WWE. After a stint of over three years at ANI, Vishesh moved to NDTV, where he gained hands-on experience in digital-first journalism, with a particular emphasis on live blogs and real-time news reporting. He joined Hindustan Times in October 2024 and quickly established himself with a series of exclusive interviews and source-driven stories. Ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, Hindustan Times was the first to report that the two-day event would be held in Saudi Arabia. In the early months of his tenure, Vishesh secured interviews with leading cricketers, including Pat Cummins, Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Rashid Latif. He has also closely tracked the rise of emerging talents such as Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Priyansh Arya by speaking to their current and childhood coaches. His background in on-field reporting has helped Hindustan Times Digital break exclusive stories on major developments, including Virat Kohli’s return to the Ranji and Vijay Hazare Trophy, IPL scheduling, and the T20 World Cup controversy involving Bangladesh and Pakistan.Read More

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