former england captain Michael Vaughn Teenage star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is believed to have transformed the way the team approaches T20 batting, but feels the 15-year-old still has one aspect of his game that needs improvement before he can establish himself in all formats. talking about Ajinkya RahaneAhead of India’s five-match T20I series against England in Durham on July 1, Warne suggested that England should consider taking advantage of the physical demands of the defense by asking India to bowl first when winning toss. According to him, Soriyavanshi’s biggest challenge in international matches will be to get a full innings on the pitch before starting to bat. “One thing he has to deal with is his defense. There was no cushion for him to sit on the bench. If I were England, I would ask India to bat first because when Sooryavanshi comes on, he might be tired,” Michael Vaughan said on Ajinkya Rahane’s YouTube channel. Vaughn’s observation is that rajasthan royals Sooryavanshi was used frequently as an impact player during IPL 2026, limiting his playing time. The move reportedly surprised the youngster himself, with one of the team’s coaches revealing that Soriyavanshi is very proud of his defensive abilities. Despite Vaughn’s concerns, Suryavanshi showed a willingness to work long hours on site. The youngster featured extensively in the U19 World Cup and the recent Tri-Nations A series, although India A batted first in every match. Apart from emphasizing on the fielding aspect, Warne was full of admiration for the left-handed batsman’s fearless performance, claiming Soriyavanshi has redefined the expectations in T20 cricket. “There’s only one name being talked about here and that’s the 15-year-old. I think T20 cricket, especially through Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, has taken the par score of the game to 230. I think that’s the norm now; teams want to get 230-plus. The opening batsmen are working harder than ever. It’s almost like a 15-year-old sending a message to the rest of the world that T20 cricket can reach another level,” the former England captain said. Suryavanshi did not feature in India’s first T20I against Ireland on Friday. Abhishek Sharma and Sanzhou Samson The first choice is at the top of the order. The teenager is still awaiting his international debut and could become India’s youngest-ever T20I debutant if the team management decides to rotate the squad during the England series. The 15-year-old has had a phenomenal year in 2026, scoring 175 runs in the U19 World Cup final before scoring a staggering 776 runs for Rajasthan Royals in a breakthrough IPL season.
