After a memorable IPL campaign, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues his swashbuckling form for India A in the tri-series opener against Afghanistan on Thursday, underway in Dambulla. Speculations were rife about Sooryavanshi, who claimed a host of awards for his impactful performance in the IPL while also earning a call-up to the India A team. The teenager made a blazing start against Afghanistan and smashed 44 off just 22 balls before falling cheaply to a short ball by Abdollah Ahmadzai.
The other opener, Prabhsimran Singh, was the top scorer for India A with 84 runs. At the same time, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Tilak Varma each added 66 to the board, as the Men in Blue posted 349 in 49 overs in the rain-delayed encounter.
How did Vaibhav Sooryavanshi perform against Afghanistan A?
Known for his aggressive batting, Sooryavanshi somewhat lived up to the billing in the series opener. Fans might have expected a marathon innings, but his impactful 44 at the top of the order certainly gave a boost. He was well supported by Prabhsimran, who held the wicket at the other end, with Sooryavanshi going all guns blazing at a strike rate of 200.
However, surprisingly, the Rajasthan Royals star, who broke Chris Gayle’s six-hitting record of a single IPL season recently, was unable to score any maximum against Afghanistan. His knock was laced with nine boundaries.
Sooryavanshi’s weakness against short balls exposed again?
At the age of 15, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has already earned much praise for his batting technique and composure. His performance against some world-class bowlers in the IPL undoubtedly raised eyebrows. However, he has struggled in short deliveries, and the same happened against Afghanistan A. Despite a promising start, Sooryavanshi missed his half-century by just six runs. He edged a short ball and was caught behind by Mohammad Ishaq.
