‘My new favourite player’: Cummins in awe of teen sensation Sooryavanshi
Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi displayed remarkable fearlessness, smashing a 37-ball 103 against seasoned bowlers like Pat Cummins and Jasprit Bumrah. His aggressive approach, characterized by audacious hitting, powered Rajasthan Royals to a strong total. Despite the team's loss, Sooryavanshi's century left a significant impression, earning praise from opposition captain Cummins for his fearless play and promising start.
JAIPUR : On a cricket field, certain names demand caution. But for 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, reputations are merely obstacles between him and the boundary. On Saturday night at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, the Rajasthan Royals opener showed once again that he plays the ball, not the man - regardless of how many World Cups that man may have won.
The carnage began in the very first over, as he tore into Praful Hinge with breathtaking disdain. Four consecutive sixes set the tone — the first launched into the stands, the second pulled over deep square leg, the third flicked to long leg and the fourth carved over long-on. He didn’t slow down.
In the next over, he welcomed Pat Cummins with an imperious six over deep midwicket - a statement shot that underlined his fearlessness. Where most young batters might have taken time to settle, Sooryavanshi needed just one ball to assert himself. This wasn’t a one-off.
Earlier in the tournament, he had shown the same audacity against Jasprit Bumrah and Josh Hazlewood. It has quickly become a hallmark of his game — whether facing India’s premier pacer or Australia’s finest, Sooryavanshi attacks with the same intent. His 37-ball 103 powered Rajasthan Royals to a formidable 228.