Sooryavanshi’s new-ball problem meets an Afghan attack built to exploit it

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's batting woes in the Indian Premier League were replicated in a recent net session ahead of India's T20I series against Afghanistan. Despite facing new-ball attacks from Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Yash Thakur, Sooryavanshi struggled to find his form, facing dismissals on multiple occasions. However, his younger brother, an aspiring cricketer, and father remained supportive throughout the session.

Afghanistan's bowling attack, led by Naveen-ul-Haq and Fazalhaq Farooqi, has proven adept at exploiting new-ball vulnerabilities, with figures indicating early wicket-taking potential. Afghanistan's captain, Ibrahim Zadran, acknowledged Sooryavanshi's talent and experience but emphasized their preparedness to capitalize on the new-ball advantage.

Sooryavanshi, who has already fallen inside the first three overs three times in his T20I career, faces a challenging task in his debut match for India.