The same batter who robbed top bowlers of their sleep in IPL 2026 is now struggling to find his feet in the ODI format. Vaibhav Suryavanshi's explosive T20 batting earned him a place in the India A side, yet he has been unable to repeat that magic in the tri-nation ODI series under way in Sri Lanka. Across three matches his bat has stayed quiet, and that has become the talking point among fans and experts alike.
In the third game of this tour, Suryavanshi managed only 21 runs before heading back to the pavilion. He was caught by Vanuja Sahan off the bowling of Sri Lanka A spinner Sahan Arachchige. He had already committed to the drive, the ball did not come off the middle of the bat and rolled towards point, making the catch a simple one. That dismissal only deepened the question of why a player who thrashed seasoned bowlers in the IPL cannot get his bat going in this series.
How the three matches unfolded
This was the third match of the tour, and so far Suryavanshi has not lived up to his reputation. In the opening game against Sri Lanka A, the left-hander scored just 12 runs off 14 balls before being caught at mid-off. In the second match against Afghanistan A he showed some intent with a brisk 44 off 22 balls, but he ended up gloving a short ball from Abdullah Ahmadzai to the wicketkeeper. Apart from that one knock, a big score has stayed well out of reach.
So why is Vaibhav's bat not firing
Suryavanshi has been brilliant in T20 cricket, and he even excelled in the ODI format at the Under 19 level, yet the moment he stepped into senior cricket he has been flopping in ODIs. One major reason could be the doubt running through his mind about the format itself. The free-flowing way he bats in T20s is his natural game, whereas in ODIs he is trying to play with caution, and that confusion seems to be breaking his rhythm.
Overconfidence may be another factor. It appears he is making the mistake of underrating the bowlers of Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A. Meanwhile the opposition bowlers are studying his old videos and coming onto the field with sharper strategies and preparation, striking precisely at his weaknesses to pick up his wicket. Suryavanshi himself has said that he does no homework on any bowler before a match, and that very habit could be costing him. In senior cricket, planning and preparation against rival bowlers matter a great deal, and this is the area he will now have to work on.
He has already made history at a young age
At just 15 years of age, Vaibhav Suryavanshi has risen rapidly through Indian cricket. He has already been included in the senior side for the T20 series against Ireland and England. At 15 years and 71 days, he has become the youngest player ever to make the senior team, surpassing even the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who was picked for the Indian team at the age of 16. Fans will be hoping that his current ODI slump is just a phase, provided he tweaks his approach to preparation.
