MUMBAI: Desperate to secure the final playoffs spot, Rajasthan Royals will aim to go full throttle against the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Sooryavanshi's Maiden Wankhede Outing
While RR's playoff push will be closely tracked, the biggest attraction for Mumbai's cricket lovers will be 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's maiden outing at the Wankhede. Sooryavanshi's fearless strokeplay has left the cricketing world stunned.
Explosive Form
Enjoying a sensational second IPL season, the left-hander has smashed 579 runs in 13 matches at an astonishing strike rate of 236.32, including three fifties and a hundred. In his last outing, the 'boy wonder' hammered a breathtaking 93 off just 38 balls to help RR chase down 221 against Lucknow Super Giants with ease. An encore on Sunday could not only take Rajasthan into the playoffs but also delight a city that once produced a teenage batting prodigy named Sachin Tendulkar.
Coach's Praise
Lavishing praise on Sooryavanshi, RR assistant coach Trevor Penny said the youngster "lives in his own bubble" and added that he is "unlike any player" he has seen in four decades in cricket. "He's just such a pleasant boy, very confident and excited every day to practice and play. We don't really have to talk to him much. He practices hard and then goes out and enjoys himself. In 40 years of cricket, I haven't seen that before," Penny said on Saturday.
Support System
Asked how RR were protecting the teenager from the growing hype around him, Penny said the franchise had put a strong support system around him. Stay updated with the latest IPL Live Score, IPL news on Times of India. Follow the IPL Schedule, check the IPL Points Table, and track the race for the IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple Cap.
