India’s interim head coach VVS Laxman has revealed that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi needs to improve his fitness after the T20I series against Zimbabwe. Sooryavanshi shone with the bat after he could not deliver the goods in three T20Is against England.

The left-hander returned with scores of 50, 20 and 81 in the three games against Zimbabwe. The youngster scored a total of 151 runs in three matches at an average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 196.10 against the hosts.

Thus, Sooryavanshi was awarded Player of the Series for his consistent performances.

VVS Laxman said in the post-match press conference, “The one area we want him to improve is his overall fitness. He’s a very young boy. He himself wants to get better in every aspect of the game. Even today, when he got injured [while attempting a diving catch running in from deep square leg], he still wanted to stay on the field. It was our physio who asked him to come off. That’s the eagerness and earnestness he has to contribute in every possible way to the team.”

Meanwhile, Sooryavanshi scored a fine knock of 81 runs off 49 balls with the help of eight fours and four sixes in the third T20I on Sunday. Laxman said the youngster was disappointed after missing out on a hundred.

“I’m not surprised by the way this series has gone. He was disappointed not to get a hundred, but we told him it’s not going to be the first or the last opportunity he’ll get. He’s got a long career ahead, and he has the attitude and mindset to improve every day. I’m sure he will progress and break all the records at the international level. He’s got all the potential and ability to do that,” said Laxman (via the aforementioned source).

India will next take on Sri Lanka in a two-match Test series.