Vaibhav Sooryavanshi remains confident despite recent challenges as he prepares for India’s three-match T20 International series against Zimbabwe, which begins on Friday. The 15-year-old batsman, who became India’s youngest-ever international cricketer earlier this year, is determined to maintain focus and rely on his established routine following a difficult series against England.

Sooryavanshi’s early rise generated significant attention, as he broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record by debuting for the senior team at just 15. However, his initial impact at the international level was limited during the recent five-match T20 series against England, where he failed to reach 20 runs in each of his three innings. Consequently, he was dropped to make way for Sanju Samson.

Speaking ahead of the Zimbabwe series, Sooryavanshi acknowledged the ups and downs of his young career but emphasized the importance of trusting the process and contributing fully to the team. “There have been several ups and downs in the last four months. It’s part of cricket; it will keep happening. But I have to follow the process and give my 100 percent for the team,” he said in a video posted on the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s official platform.

He also expressed appreciation for the support and guidance from coaches and for the training opportunities provided. "Feeling very good, there is confidence also," he added.

The upcoming series in Zimbabwe holds special significance for Sooryavanshi, as it returns him to Harare Sports Club, the venue where he played a pivotal role in India’s Under-19 World Cup victory earlier this year. In February, he scored an unbeaten 175 off 80 balls against England in the final, helping secure the championship for India.

“It’s a very memorable ground for me. Just four months back, we had played the U-19 World Cup final and won, so it’s a very special ground,” Sooryavanshi said. “Representing India is everyone’s dream and playing here will be an altogether different feeling.”

With Sanju Samson rested for this series, Sooryavanshi is expected to return to the top order as India aims to recover from back-to-back T20 series losses in Ireland and England. He said his prior experience in Harare provides him with valuable knowledge of the pitch and conditions. “I will try to apply what I gathered during that tournament and back my practice to contribute to the team,” he stated.

Having played two matches at the same ground during the Under-19 tournament, Sooryavanshi remains optimistic about his potential to perform strongly in this series and support India’s efforts to regain momentum in the T20 format.