NEW DELHI: From the early 1990s until his retirement, fans flocked to watch Sachin Tendulkar bat. In the last decade, Virat Kohli took over that mantle, drawing crowds to stadiums. While vintage Kohli still grabs eyeballs, a 15-year-old now seems to have inherited the baton. No wonder IPL fans have been clamouring for a glimpse of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Rajasthan Royals' teen batting wonder, across stadiums.
Rajiv Yadav, a cricket fan from Manesar, was heard asking a security guard at the Arun Jaitley Stadium gate on Saturday evening, "Bhaiyya, can I go inside the stadium so that I can watch Sooryavanshi practise? I just want to see him." The request was politely turned down.
In the nets, Sooryavanshi took on bowlers and throwdown specialists for about 40 minutes. Not once did he look to play a defensive stroke. For him, it was all about hitting the ball as hard and as long as possible. Sooryavanshi has amassed 440 runs from 11 games at an average of 40. But his strike rate of 236.55, the best among the top 10 run-getters this IPL, has turned heads. He has also smashed 40 sixes, the most in the tournament.
Coaches and experts weigh in
"The key for Vaibhav is to enjoy every moment. The worst thing we can do is clutter his mind. We have a conversation with him if he needs it. One thing Vaibhav loves is his batting. And the most important thing about him is that I've seen he reads the game very well. He's a smart little kid and he will keep understanding himself and the game. Sometimes the best thing is to let Vaibhav be Vaibhav," said Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara.
"As he starts playing more international cricket, bowlers will try to plan against him. The one thing he should never lose is his enjoyment of batting. He isn't a special project for us but a special player," added Sangakkara.
Former England batter Ian Bell, an assistant coach at Delhi Capitals, also feels the youngster will have to prepare for stiffer battles ahead. "The challenge for any young player is that you've to keep evolving, but he's a scary talent," Bell said.
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