India’s preparations for the first Twenty20 International against Ireland got off to a less-than-ideal start when the visitors faced inadequate practice facilities on Thursday.
But soon after, attention turned to teenage star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, whose maiden net session with the senior national team caused a lot of enthusiasm among the Indian community in Belfast, a sleepy city in Northern Ireland.
When it was discovered that one of the practice strips lacked a sightscreen behind the bowler’s arm, making it challenging for batters to pick up the ball against the background, the Indian team management was not impressed.
“Yes, there has been some issues with practice facilities but Indian team’s support staff have brought this to notice of Irish officials,” PTI quoted a BCCI source as saying.
India’s operations manager quickly alerted Cricket Ireland officials about the problem and went over to speak with the hosts. Before the session picked up speed, the arrangements were corrected. The youngest member of the touring company was unavoidably the focus of attention once the logistical issue was resolved.
Despite the limelight following his every move, Sooryavanshi appeared perfectly at ease during his maiden appearance at a net practice with the senior national team.
During a lengthy batting spell, the left-handed batter, whose exploits in franchise cricket have made him one of the nation’s most talked-about young cricket players, was in terrific rhythm as he drove fluidly and used his signature attacking strokes.
For a city not used to cricket mania, Belfast has seen remarkable excitement surrounding the teenager’s arrival. Everywhere the squad has been, the young player has been the center of attraction as members of the Indian community have been showing up in large numbers to catch a look of him.
Non-Resident Indians have been especially enthusiastic, with many eager to get pictures and signatures from the rising celebrity. The players are not the only ones affected by the craze for the teenager.
Romi Bhinder, the Rajasthan Royals’ designated “guardian” of Sooryavanshi, was spotted snapping photographs with a few excited supporters. He and the teen’s parents were spotted going into the Indian team hotel.
Bhinder, who was designated by the IPL team as Sooryavanshi’s guardian during his quick ascent through the ranks, has stayed close to the young player and has traveled with the Royals’ personnel to keep an eye on his development on the global scene.
Sooryavanshi continued to demand attention as the session went on in the nice Belfast weather, seemingly unaffected by the rising expectations that come with every appearance.
