Just 99 days after turning 15, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made India’s youngest-ever international debut at Old Trafford, but Jacob Bethell’s unbeaten 76 steered England to a Twenty20 victory and a 1-0 series lead.
Manchester on Saturday looked set to be lit by a new kind of talent. The moment Vaibhav Sooryavanshi walked out for India at 15, it carried the quiet shock of something historic—99 days after his birthday, the teenager became India’s youngest ever international.
For a handful of deliveries, his first innings on the biggest stage did exactly what the hype promised. Then the enthusiasm met the reality of debut pressure, and England’s chase shifted to a steadier rhythm—one Jacob Bethell controlled from start to finish.
Bethell, at 22, struck with the kind of composure that makes opponents feel the gap immediately. He finished unbeaten on 76, helping England consign Sooryavanshi to debut defeat and breaking India’s grip over the head-to-head. The result also ended a run of close England meetings: their sixth win in seven fixtures against India came when England’s momentum finally held.
“It feels weird to say that I am playing against someone who is seven years younger than me, but his swing is pure and he’s an unbelievable talent,” Bethell said.
Sooryavanshi’s dismissal came courtesy of Will Jacks, but it was the build-up that carried the oddness of the day. Sanju Samson—player of the tournament when India won the Twenty20 World Cup less than four months ago. amassing 321 runs at an average of 80.25 and a strike rate of 199.37—felt the full force of the axe three international matches later. Even small details underlined how different this debut was: the cap presentation was clunky. with the teenager unable to get it to fit over his curly locks. Then. after India’s new No 3 emerged from his own changing room due to UK safeguarding regulations. he found a spark.
His first two strokes, off the bowling of fellow debutant Josh Tongue, were crisp and full of fresh air. After scrambling a single off his third legitimate delivery. he showed a global audience what the fuss has been about—at 15. he flicked his first six in Indian colours off Rajasthan Royals team-mate Jofra Archer. It was a 90-mile-per-hour delivery sent over the shoulder and into the seats in front of Old Trafford’s red-brick pavilion. a moment that briefly cut through the tension.
The next phase was quicker, but less forgiving. Tongue was eased into the crowd at deep midwicket, before a change of pace suckered Sooryavanshi for a 10-ball 14. Lured out of his ground by Will Jacks’ off spin, Jos Buttler did the rest.
By then, India still had momentum. Abhishek Sharma—world’s No 2-ranked T20 batsman—had savaged England’s attack after facing five dot balls in the opening over from the returning Jofra Archer. India were 50 up at that stage. But the surface of the match swung when Abhishek helicoptered a low full toss to deep midwicket.
England, too, had shown they could apply pressure early on. Sam Curran conceded 15 runs off his first five deliveries, yet when the chance came, he seized it. He finished with figures of three for 33—his best in home T20 internationals—to limit India. who were 130 for two before sliding to 190 for seven. That total was a run more than India had posted in the abandoned opening game of the series at Chester-le-Street on Wednesday.
Old Trafford itself has been a place of dramatic totals. England had piled up 304 for two against South Africa on their last visit there last September, but this time the momentum was stymied before it could run away.
England’s chase began with the worst possible opening. Phil Salt and Jos Buttler fell in the first over. The recovery started to take shape through partnerships. with Bethell joining Brook—though it wasn’t just runs on the board that mattered. Bethell was doing the quieter work of taking control while others came and went. He played second fiddle in back-to-back half-century stands with Brook, who made 39 off 15, and Banton, who scored 39 off 32.
Then, with England back in front of the equation, Bethell shifted gears when it mattered. When leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi was reintroduced with 49 runs required off 24 deliveries. Bethell altered the contest completely. striking two free hits for six in an over that cost 29. With six balls unused, he guided England home.
At that stage, Bethell’s England vice-captain had been on 42 off 36, but the acceleration made the difference. England’s win brought the series level in the simplest possible way—1-0 up for them.
“There’s nothing sweeter as a batter than walking off unbeaten with a win,” Bethell said, naming the innings as potentially his best in an England shirt.
“I’ve scored a few hundreds, but only one was in a winning cause, whereas I’m all smiles, we’ve gone 1-0 up in the series and there’s a few scars against India, so it’s nice to get one over on them.”
India vs England Twenty20 Jacob Bethell Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Old Trafford Samson Ravi Bishnoi Phil Salt Jos Buttler Jofra Archer Will Jacks