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15-year-old Sooryavanshi hits sixes off Archer and Tongue
Cricket Correspondent at Emirates Old TraffordPublished4 July 2026, 18:16 BSTUpdated 4 minutes agoSecond Twenty20 international, Emirates Old Trafford
India 190-7 (20 overs): Kishan 49 (40), Sharma 43 (24), Iyer 37 (22); Curran 3-33
England 191-6 (20 Overs): Bethell 76* (46), Brook 39 (15), Banton 39 (32), Arshdeep 3-40
England won by four wickets, lead five-match series 1-0
Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became the youngest man to play for India in England's thrilling four-wicket win in the second T20 at Old Trafford.
At 15 years and 99 days old, the opener broke the record set by the great Sachin Tendulkar when he played a Test against Pakistan aged 16 years and 205 days in 1989.
Although Sooryavanshi sparkled for 14 off 10 balls in India's 190-7, it was England's own protégé, Jacob Bethell, who led them to victory with an over to spare.
Bethell crunched a breathtaking unbeaten 76 from 46 balls to give the home side a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Sooryavanshi's inclusion sent a frisson of excitement around Old Trafford, giving a boisterous and partisan crowd further reason to make noise.
And the left-hander gave a brief glimpse of the thrilling strokeplay that has enthralled the cricketing world.
From the fourth delivery he faced, and first from England fast bowler Jofra Archer, Sooryavanshi audaciously whipped over his shoulder for six. In the next over, Josh Tongue was larruped over cow corner for six.
In the fifth over, Sooryavanshi looked primed to attack the off-spin of Will Jacks, only to run past a flatter one and be stumped.
Ishan Kishan made 49, Abhishek Sharma 43 and Shreyas Iyer 37, but India were stifled by tight bowling from Jacks and Sam Curran, the latter claiming 3-33. The tourists took 23 off the last seven balls, yet their total felt no better than par.
From 1-2 after the first over, England were kickstarted by captain Harry Brook's 39 from 15 balls, followed by a stand of 67 between Bethell and Tom Banton.
England needed 49 off the final four, when Bethell climbed into the leg-spin of Ravi Bishnoi, hammering three sixes for a total of 29 off the 17th over.
And Archer calmly clipped the winning runs from the final ball of the 19th over to put England ahead going into the third match of the series at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.
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Jacks takes wicket as Sooryavanshi is stumped for 14
Sooryavanshi was far from the star performer in this match, yet there was no doubt he was the main attraction. Given his age and talent, he is likely to be the centre of attention for many years to come.
The highest run-scorer in this year's Indian Premier League (IPL) has had to wait for his international chance, because the world champions are a hard team to break into. He sat out the two defeats in Ireland and abandoned opener to this series.
There was a clue to his inclusion when Sooryavanshi was shadow batting on the square in the hour before the game, and his debut was confirmed by a cap presentation before the toss. It further lifted an already boisterous atmosphere in Manchester.
And, on the ground where Tendulkar scored his maiden Test century as a 17-year-old, Sooryavanshi briefly hinted at a stunning debut performance.
Winding up at virtually every ball he faced, Sooryavanshi's sweep for six off Rajasthan Royals team-mate Archer was typical of the shots that brought success in the IPL. When Tongue, also on T20 debut, bowled one into the slot, Sooryavanshi hit it miles.
It was a gamble for Brook to introduce Jacks, one that paid off. The stumping that led to Sooryavanshi lying on his back was an anti-climactic end to what could have been riotous entertainment.
England fielded well, and the work of Curran and Jacks between the 15th and 19th overs was vital.
Tilak Varma flogged Archer for two sixes and a four in the final over, but it was not enough.
