‘Dream come true’: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi credits team backing after match-winning series against Zimbabwe

New Delhi: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s impressive performances against Zimbabwe earned him both the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards, but the young batter believes the credit also belongs to the people who trusted him from the start.

The 15-year-old finished the three-match T20I series with 151 runs at an average of 50.33, playing a key role in India’s clean 3-0 sweep. His fearless half-century in the opening match and composed 81 in the final game highlighted his ability to adapt to different situations while sticking to his attacking style.

Speaking after receiving the awards, Sooryavanshi described the achievement as a dream come true and thanked the coaching staff and captain for giving him the freedom to play his natural T20 game.

1️⃣5️⃣1️⃣ runs at an explosive 1️⃣9️⃣6️⃣ strike rate 💥

15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi bags the Player of the Series award 👏👏#TeamIndia | #ZIMvIND pic.twitter.com/s2czRP4iei

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 26, 2026

Sooryavanshi enjoys memorable tour

The youngster said he felt comfortable throughout the tour, having previously played in Harare during the Under-19 World Cup. According to him, the confidence shown by the team management made a big difference to his performances.

“It felt very good. It is a dream come true for me. First man of the match and man of the series. The preparation here has been good,” Sooryavanshi said.

He also explained that his approach remains simple give the team a strong start and, if settled, convert it into a bigger innings. “I tried to play my usual T20 game and tried to give the team a good start and then play a long innings if I manage a good start,” he added.

Shreyas Iyer delighted with team’s progress

India captain Shreyas Iyer was pleased to see his side bounce back after series defeats against England and Ireland. He praised the young squad for showing energy, confidence and the courage to play fearless cricket throughout the Zimbabwe tour.

“As we saw, how fearlessly they are. A young bunch of players showing tremendous energy and intent on the field,” Shreyas said. The skipper also stressed the importance of creating a relaxed environment where players feel confident enough to express themselves. He believes that trust and responsibility are helping this young group develop into a stronger unit.

Zimbabwe look to build for future

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza admitted the series was a learning experience for his side despite the whitewash. He praised several young players for their effort and said competing against the T20 world champions offered valuable lessons for the future.

While India celebrated a dominant series victory, Zimbabwe finished the contest with positives to build on. For India, the tour will be remembered for the emergence of Sooryavanshi, whose fearless batting and calm approach marked him out as one of the brightest young talents to watch in the shortest format.