“Never underestimate his bat flow” – Irfan Pathan’s massive praise for Indian youngster after NZ vs IND 2026 3rd T20I

Irfan Pathan expressed his excitement over Team India opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s impactful performance in the third T20I of the five-match series against New Zealand on Tuesday. The 15-year-old scored 45 runs off 19 balls with the help of four sixes and as many boundaries.

Suryavanshi batted at No. 3 in the second game, where he was dismissed for four off eight balls. He redeemed himself after being sent in at his usual spot in the subsequent fixture.

Pathan remarked that Suryavanshi generated tremendous power with his bat flow. He also pointed out how the 15-year-old was able to keep his head stable despite the bat swing and body movement.

The former cricketer said in his recent YouTube video:

“You should never underestimate his bat flow. He generates such power that even a strong 30-year-old is not able to. He is able to do it because of the way his bat moves, and there is separation of hip and shoulder. There is so much movement in his body, but his head still remains stable.”

Pathan noted how Suryavanshi played attacking cricket right from the word go, putting the Black Caps bowlers on the back foot early.

“He hit a big shot on the first ball and gave a direct statement to New Zealand that I may be a 15-year-old, but don’t think of me as a kid; I will attack you. When you score more than 20 runs in the first over itself, you directly put the opposition on the back foot. So, that first punch from Vaibhav was very important,” he added.

The cricketer-turned-commentator also stated that he would have preferred if India had used a left-right opening combination. However, he opined that adapting to the No. 3 role was tough for a youngster like Suryavanshi.

“My birthday went great seeing Vaibhav Suryavanshi bat. It was sweeter than the cake. I don’t prefer two left-handers opening, which is why I wanted Sanju to open and Vaibhav coming at three and trying to adapt. But it is not easy for a young kid,” he elaborated.

Suryavanshi did not play in the opening contest. He was added to the side for the next two fixtures as Ishan Kishan was ruled out due to a low-grade right adductor strain.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma’s carnage powered India to a comfortable win

Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma stitched together a stunning 133-run opening stand off just 43 balls. Their blistering batting exploits helped India register the highest-ever powerplay score in T20Is among Full Member nations as they finished 118/0 after six overs.

While Suryavanshi missed out on a well-deserved half-century, Abhishek notched up a blazing 35-ball ton. The hard-hitting batter scored 113 off 38 deliveries. The Men in Blue chased down the 199-run target in 13.2 overs to complete a resounding six-wicket win.

With the victory, India claimed an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. The fourth T20I will be played at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday, October 30.

Edited by Aditya Suketu Desai