Following Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s maiden India call-up, cricket legend Kapil Dev has asked supporters and experts to be patient with the young player, arguing that it would be unjust to have high expectations for him at such a young age.
The 15-year-old phenom became the youngest player chosen for India’s senior men’s team, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record. In addition to being a member of the team for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan later this year, he was picked in the squad for the Twenty20 International series against England and Ireland.
The 15-year-old was called a “special talent” by the 1983 World Cup-winning captain, but he emphasized that it would take time and adjustment for him to make the switch to international cricket.
“He is a special talent, give him time, but he definitely showed the talent that he has. I think he is unbelievable, but again, he will have to conduct himself (in the Indian team), have to keep himself fit, and a lot of other things are going to happen when you are part of the national team. How much he is focused, only he can answer, but to me, he is a special talent,” Kapil told PTI Videos on Monday.
Sooryavanshi will soon understand the distinction between playing for his country and his club, according to Kapil.
“There’s nothing wrong with giving respect to the young kid, but expecting too much at this stage would be wrong; he has just been included in the team. He will understand that club cricket is totally different from playing for your country, it’s a different thought process so give him time, don’t start expecting too much, just give him time,” he stressed.
His former teammate and pacer Madan Lal expressed confidence that the teenage wonder can replicate his success in the Indian Premier League on the global scene.
“This is a very big moment for him because he is a 15-year-old player who has forced his selection. He has got this chance because of his good performance. I think he will definitely be able to do it because he has the talent and in abundance. Why won’t he be able to do it? He is also in good form. He has played throughout the tournament and performed consistently. He is only 15 years old and has already shown what he is capable of,” Lal said.
During this year’s IPL, Sooryavanshi smashed renowned bowlers like Pat Cummins and Kagiso Rabada with gay abandon.
“I think if a player is talented, he will definitely be able to perform well. I don’t think he will take much time. He has played so well. His nature of the game suits him. I am 100% sure that he will perform well in international cricket. He is an amazing talent,” Lal explained.
