After slamming a 17-ball 52 to start his IPL season, there were increasing calls on Tuesday for teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to be fast-tracked into India’s senior national team.
The batsman, who has previously excelled for India at the youth level, turned 15 last week, making him eligible to represent India under International Cricket Council regulations.
He hit five sixes and four fours on Monday as the Rajasthan Royals defeated the Chennai Super Kings in Guwahati by chasing down a target of 128 with 7.5 overs to spare.
During his brilliant maiden season in the IPL last year, the teenager made history with a century off 35 balls, the second fastest in the T20 tournament’s history.
Spin bowling great Anil Kumble likened Sooryavanshi to batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, who made his international debut at the age of 16.
“Yes, absolutely. If a player shows this level of consistency, he should be fast‑tracked, just like Sachin Tendulkar,” AFP quoted Kumble saying on JioHotstar.
After hitting 175 off just 80 balls to help India defeat England in the Under-19 World Cup final in February, Sooryavanshi has already established himself at the youth international level.
Sooryavanshi was called “a cut above a lot of youngsters in the country” by former Indian batter Ambati Rayudu.
“He’s a talent that will definitely do wonders for Indian cricket. I don’t know when, but definitely in the future,” Rayudu said on ESPNcricinfo.
The Rajasthan Royals team management has been concentrating on protecting the prodigy from the pressures of early fame.
“What I tell him is that you’re going to play 14 games (in this season’s IPL) and regardless of what goes on in the game, it shouldn’t bother you. What goes around in the media shouldn’t bother you,” captain Riyan Parag said.
“Like everyone in the stands, we also had this feeling of ‘wow’, wondering how he is able to do this. He is a talent and I am very glad that he is in our team, and not the opponent’s,” after Monday’s latest spectacular display, Parag added.
