12 September,2026 09:44 AM IST | Mumbai | Amit Shah
India’s Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during the second T20I against Zimbabwe in Harare recently. Pics/BCCI
Under the glare of the Yamuna Sports Complex floodlights on Wednesday evening, the Afghanistan national cricket team stepped up its tactical preparations for the upcoming three T20Is against India with a high-intensity practice match.
The session had one key agenda: How to stop India's teenaged batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The three-match T20 series against India begins on Sunday, September 13 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
While the practice match offered valuable game time to the Afghan squad, the real focus of the evening was a dedicated tactical briefing on dismantling one of India's most aggressive young batters.
Rashid Khan
"Leg-spin maestro and senior leader Rashid Khan led a granular breakdown of Sooryavanshi's technique. The discussion centred around exploiting specific vulnerabilities exposed during India's recent series against England," a source close to the Afghanistan team told mid-day.
Rashid urged the pace unit to replicate the high-octane short-pitched strategy employed effectively by England fast bowler Jofra Archer. "Target the middle-and-leg line with aggressive bouncers," Rashid is said to have instructed his fast bowlers, highlighting how steep bounce directed at the body can force Sooryavanshi into awkward decision-making and limit the ability to free his arms.
The senior Afghan player also had special instructions for the spin contingent. To curb Sooryavanshi's boundary-hitting, Rashid cautioned his fellow spinners against rushing the ball through at high speeds, which could play into the batter's natural hand speed.
According to the source, Rashid told his spinners: "Don't bowl fast spin to him [Sooryavanshi]. Flight the ball a little more and drop the pace. His footwork isn't as sharp when he has to generate his own power off slow, floating deliveries. That is where the trap lies."
Afghanistan, who are hosting this series in New Delhi, also invited select domestic players from Haryana to sharpen their competitive edge.
There is a different vibe to the Indian team the moment one gentleman checks in. Jasprit Bumrah was back at the Kotla, all smiles with a spring in his step and display of his wide array of skill sets that kept a 15-year-old teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on toes.
Under the Kotla lights, India's greatest ever paceman decided to ask a few probing questions to a Gen Alpha superstar in making. The first delivery pitched on good length and as Sooryavanshi jabbed at it, he missed it completely.
The next delivery at same length found the little one hurried as it passed his bat before it came down. The third one was a perfect yorker that Sooryavanshi just about managed to dig it out.
193
No of runs scored by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in six T20Is for India
