Zimbabwe captain backs 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza has voiced strong support for India's 15-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, calling him a potential "generational talent" ahead of a three-match T20I series between the two nations beginning July 23 in Harare. Raza urged patience with the teenager, who had a challenging debut series in England, and emphasized the importance of his management by India's senior players.

Sooryavanshi made his international debut during India's recent T20I series against England, scoring 14, 13, and 15 in three innings as India lost the series 4-0. He was dismissed twice by Jofra Archer's short-pitched deliveries. Despite this tough introduction, Raza believes it is far too early for criticism. "Vaibhav is a supremely talented cricketer," Raza said in an interview. "If a 15-year-old kid is playing international cricket, criticizing him after just two or three matches isn't justified."

The Zimbabwe captain highlighted the teenager's rapid rise, noting his match-winning 175 off 80 balls against England in the Under-19 World Cup final in Harare last January, which helped India secure the title. "To see what he has done over the last year, what he has done for...