Manjrekar backs Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for ODI rise after India A 44

Posted by By Cricket Enthusiast
'He is not just your T20 slogger': Manjrekar predicts big ODI future for Sooryavanshi cricket news image
Original source image for 'He is not just your T20 slogger': Manjrekar predicts big ODI future for Sooryavanshi.

Sanjay Manjrekar said Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is showing a game beyond T20 power-hitting after the 15-year-old made 44 off 22 balls for India A against Afghanistan A in the ongoing tri-series in Sri Lanka on Thursday.

Sooryavanshi opened the batting and helped India A start quickly in a rain-affected match. The left-hander struck nine boundaries, did not hit a six, and scored at a strike rate of 200 before falling short of a half-century.

The former India batter highlighted the conditions and format while praising the teenager’s adaptability. Manjrekar posted on X: “India A is in SL, pitch not as flat as in the IPL & it’s not T20 cricket. So watching Vaibhav Suryavanshi in different batting conditions. And I am excited! He is not just your T20 slogger. He can be a one day phenomenon too! Special talent!”

The Times of India report said Manjrekar’s comments followed another notable innings from Sooryavanshi after his IPL 2026 breakthrough.

Manjrekar backs Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for ODI rise after India A 44 cricket editorial visual 1

Supplemental editorial cricket visual for Manjrekar backs Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for ODI rise after India A 44.

Sooryavanshi’s innings stood out because the runs came through timing and placement in Sri Lankan conditions

Sooryavanshi’s 44 came on a surface described as less flat than typical IPL batting conditions, and the innings drew attention because the scoring was built on crisp strokes and gap-finding rather than only big hitting.

Manjrekar backs Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for ODI rise after India A 44 cricket editorial visual 2

Supplemental editorial cricket visual for Manjrekar backs Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for ODI rise after India A 44.

India A used Sooryavanshi and Prabhsimran Singh at the top of the order. The pair added 74 runs in 7.1 overs for the first wicket, giving India A early momentum against Afghanistan A.

Sooryavanshi was dismissed when he tried to ramp a short ball from Abdollah Ahmadzai and edged behind to wicketkeeper Mohammad Ishaq. The source report said it was the second successive innings in which a short delivery outside off stump led to his dismissal.

India A made 349 for 9 before Afghanistan A won by DLS after rain returned

India A finished on 349 for 9 in 49 overs, but rain interruptions changed the chase and Afghanistan A were later declared four-run winners under the DLS method.

Team Innings detail Key contributors
India A 349 for 9 in 49 overs Prabhsimran Singh 84, Tilak Varma 66, Ruturaj Gaikwad 66, Suryansh Shedge 40, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 44
Afghanistan A 177 for 2 in 25.5 overs when play stopped Imran Mir 75 not out, Bahir Shah 51 not out
Result Afghanistan A won by four runs under DLS Afghanistan A were four runs ahead of the DLS par score when the match was called off

Afghanistan A had been set a revised target of 294 from 38 overs after rain interruptions. Captain Imran Mir and Bahir Shah kept the chase alive before another delay stopped play.

Manjrekar backs Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for ODI rise after India A 44 cricket editorial visual 3

Supplemental editorial cricket visual for Manjrekar backs Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for ODI rise after India A 44.

Manjrekar’s view adds ODI context to Sooryavanshi’s rapid rise

Manjrekar’s assessment matters because the former India batter framed Sooryavanshi’s innings as evidence that the teenager can adapt outside T20 cricket.

Sooryavanshi’s IPL 2026 campaign had already put him in focus as a young power-hitter. The India A innings in Sri Lanka gave Manjrekar a different reference point, with the batter scoring quickly in a one-day match without relying on six-hitting.

India A and Afghanistan A remain part of the ongoing tri-series in Sri Lanka, and Sooryavanshi’s next innings will add more evidence to how his batting develops against varied white-ball challenges.