India’s gamble to send Vaibhav Sooryavanshi fell flat as the 15-year-old managed just four runs in his new batting position during the second T20I against New Zealand at the Hagley Oval on Saturday. Brought in place of injured Ishan Kishan, Sooryavanshi didn’t open the innings for India – a rare sight for all the fans of the teen prodigy.
Instead, the Indian think-tank went with the successful opening combination featuring Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma. Chasing 181, India were off to a cautious yet solid start, racing to 40 runs in 4.4 overs for the first wicket. walked in at no.3 replacing .
The Bihar-born youngster was greeted with a bumper angling away outside off at 143kmps from , which Sooryavanshi ducks and let it go. The southpaw gets a single in the second, steering it to the third man.
In his next four balls, manages just three runs off Michael Bracewell. The Indian could have been out on the first ball which he faced off Bracewell, after a lofted drive went up in the air only for Bevon Jacobs make a mess of the whole.
However, New Zelaand didn’t have to wait for long as Natham Smith finally got the better of the youngster. Sooryavanshi goes for a booming drive off a hard length delivery from Smith, only for Daryl Mitchell to take a smart catch. He walked back in disappointment for just four runs off eight balls.
It fact, this is the first time Sooryavanshi fell for single digits in senior India colours.
