England Reveal Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Weaknesses; Former ENG Star Backs Teen After Tough Start

England Reveal Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Weaknesses; Former ENG Star Backs Teen After Tough Start

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Last Updated: July 10, 2026, 08:52 IST

England say IPL data helped expose Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's early weakness, but Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid insist the 15-year-old has the talent to bounce back.

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India's Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (AP)

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s first taste of international cricket has been anything but straightforward, but England believe their homework from the IPL has played a key role in keeping India’s teenage sensation quiet.

The 15-year-old opener has shown flashes of his explosive talent throughout the T20I series but has yet to convert his starts into a significant score. After making 14 on debut in Manchester and 13 at Trent Bridge, Sooryavanshi managed 15 off 10 balls in the fourth T20I at Bristol before falling once again.

India have lost both completed matches in the series after the opener was washed out, handing England an unassailable 2-0 lead.

Archer Exploits Short-Ball Plan Again

Sooryavanshi began brightly in Bristol, striking Josh Tongue for a four and a six in the second over. However, Jofra Archer once again had the final say.

Attempting to attack his Rajasthan Royals teammate, the youngster mistimed an aerial shot and was caught by Sam Curran inside the 30-yard circle. Archer had also dismissed him in the previous T20I at Trent Bridge.

The left-hander walked back looking visibly frustrated, having once again failed to build on a promising start.

England Explain Their Strategy

England spinner Adil Rashid revealed that extensive analysis from the IPL helped formulate their plans against the teenage opener.

“He’s not been around in international cricket for long. People have seen a lot of him in the IPL and stuff. So you get the data," Rashid said.

“Our team would have seen where he struggles and where he doesn’t, and as a bowling unit, we are trying to implement that plan."

Despite targeting specific areas, Rashid believes India are handling the youngster correctly.

“He’s got pressure on him because he is only 15. We’re taking it seriously as we have plans against each player. They would have told him to just go out and play the way he plays."

“It’s only when things progress further, and when he plays in different conditions and hits a rough patch, that he’s got to adjust and find certain ways. For now, I think India have given him that license."

‘I’m Not Worried About Him’

Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali also backed Sooryavanshi despite his difficult introduction to international cricket.

“I loved the way Jof (Archer) was bowling to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi," Moeen said on Beard Before Wicket.

“His only issue is going to be that if he doesn’t score in the next two, three, or five games, then that becomes an issue."

“I still think he is so good. The way he is getting out now, for me, that is not a weakness. I’ve seen him hit those balls for six. I’m not worried about him. It’s the rest of the guys coming down the order."

The youngster’s modest returns in England stand in stark contrast to his extraordinary IPL 2026 campaign, where he smashed 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30, hit a record 72 sixes and claimed the tournament’s MVP award.

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About the Author Siddarth Sriram After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His... Read More

First Published: July 10, 2026, 08:52 IST

News cricket England Reveal Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Weaknesses; Former ENG Star Backs Teen After Tough Start

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