‘May the best man win’: Jofra Archer’s message to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after dismissing him in 3rd T20I

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England's Jofra Archer speaks about India opener and Rajasthan Royals teammate Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the post-match press conference.
England's Jofra Archer speaks about India opener and Rajasthan Royals teammate Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the post-match press conference.

Story Highlights:

Jofra Archer got Vaibhav Sooryavanshi out caught behind with a short ball.

Sooryavanshi has hit Archer for 2 sixes in the series so far.

India suffered a rare collapse in T20I cricket. The three-time T20 World Cup champions registered their second-lowest total of 76 in the third T20I of the series against England. The Barbados-born pacer Jofra Archer started the collapse with his three-fer with the new ball. He also got his Rajasthan Royals (RR) teammate Vaibhav Sooryavanshi out with the short ball. After Archer was named ‘Player of the match’ for rattling the top order, he was asked in the post-match press conference about Sooryavanshi. 

“I think it's even for now. We've got another two games left and it could go anywhere. May the best man win,” Archer said of the 15-year-old.

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Archer vs Sooryavanshi so far

RR often posted videos of Archer bowling to Sooryavanshi in the nets. The youngster often hit the English bowler out of the park. However, at one point in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, Archer was asked what would he bowl to the young opener. He did not reveal it then but said that he would show it after the IPL.

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On his T20I debut in Manchester, Sooryavanshi had hit Archer for a sing off the first ball he faced against him. He was dismissed stumped for a 10-ball 14 by off-spinner Will Jacks. In the third T20I, he could not deal with the well-directed short ball. All he could manage was a faint edge in an attempt to play the pull shot. Before getting out, he had Archer for a six in the third T20I as well.

Archer on bowling in England vs the IPL

Archer was also asked about the changes he had to make in England conditions after mostly batting-friendly tracks in the IPL 2026. He pointed out that the margin of error gets bigger at home due to pitches and ground dimensions where even traditional lengths get the results. 

“I think it goes back to normal here. You try to bowl straight and good length whereas over there because the pitches are like too easy and the boundaries are small. You have to be really particular whereas the margin of error here is a little big bigger,” he said.

Sooryavanshi, Archer’s next duel

After taking a 2-0 lead in the five-T20I series, England will face India in the fourth T20I on July 9 at County Ground, Bristol.