![Vaibhav Sooryavanshi [Source: screengrab/x]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1792836181737_Vaibhav_Sooryavanshi.jpg?type=hq)
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi [Source: screengrab/x]
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made his return to the Indian playing XI in the second T20I of their five-match series in New Zealand. The 15-year-old was included in the side as a replacement for injured wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan in the match at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval on October 24.
Playing his first international match in nearly a month and also his first-ever on New Zealand soil, the youngster failed to make the most of his opportunity as he was dismissed for just four off eight balls by Nathan Smith.
As one can expect, Sooryavanshi’s early dismissal sparked a wave of criticism from Indian cricket fans, with several of them calling out the teenage sensation for failing to score runs on tough overseas surfaces.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi called out by fans, urged to play IPL instead
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been criticized by a legion of Indian cricket fans for failing to go big in his first match of India’s ongoing tour of New Zealand.
Several fans are of the opinion that the 15-year-old is merely a “blind slogger” who can only succeed in high-scoring IPL venues in India. Here is a look at some of the fans reacting to Sooryavanshi’s latest and rare failure with the bat.
Sooryavanshi’s failed outing against New Zealand plunged Team India to further trouble at 44-2 in 6.2 overs in their chase of 181 runs at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. A while later, the ‘Men in Blue’ further crashed to 69-4 at the halfway stage of the innings.
Is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi really a flat-track bully?
Contrary to the opinions of some Indian cricket fans, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has already demonstrated remarkable composure and batting maturity for his age, with his explosive stroke-making, fearless approach and proven ability to deliver under pressure making him one of the most exciting young prospects in Indian cricket.
Just earlier this year, the explosive left-handed opening batter blasted 175 runs off 80 balls against England in the final to lift the 2026 Under-19 Cricket World Cup for India, doing so in Zimbabwe. The youngster also blew away Sri Lanka A in the final of the June tri-series on spin-friendly Sri Lankan surfaces, and later, became the youngest Indian cricketer to win the 2026 Asian Games medal in Japan.
He has also scored runs on challenging English and Australian surfaces as part of junior Indian cricket teams.
As far as the criticisms are concerned, with his burgeoning popularity and immense expectations surrounding him, Sooryavanshi is inevitably prone to attracting heightened scrutiny whenever he encounters a rare failure, particularly at the international level.
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