At the age of 14, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, playing for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, delivered a stellar performance that left even the biggest names in awe.
Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri recently shared in an Australian podcast how Australian legend Matthew Hayden was stunned by his batting.
‘He can’t be 14’ Hayden’s surprised reaction
Shastri recounted a moment in the podcast ‘Willow Talk’ when he was commentating in Jaipur.
He said, “I was on air in that game in Jaipur. I went on air in the 4th over, and I did two stints in a row because we were one commentator short by that time.
By the 9th and 10th overs, he had reached his 100, and he had smashed it. He was hitting Mohammed Siraj and Ishant Sharma 10 rows back over extra cover and midwicket.”
Seeing Vaibhav’s explosive batting, Hayden said, “Oh, he can’t be 14,” to which Shastri replied, “Come on, calm down.”
Vaibhav hit sixes and fours off legendary bowlers like Mohammed Siraj and Ishant Sharma and scored a century in just 9-10 overs.
Shastri praised Vaibhav, saying he reminded him of a young Sachin Tendulkar. But he also added that the real challenge for Vaibhav begins now.
Having earned such a big name at such a young age, he needs proper guidance, otherwise he may lose his way.
Red-Ball Cricket Advice
Shastri suggested that Vaibhav should now play red-ball cricket.
He said, “If this guy is that good at this age, there is no reason why he can’t be asked to play four-day games. It will make him good to bowl out. It will help tighten his technique.”
Shastri believes that red-ball cricket will improve Vaibhav’s technique and patience. He’s already adept at aggressive batting, but now he needs to learn which bowlers to play and which to respect.
Vaibhav’s achievement has created a stir in the cricket world. Everyone is amazed by his age and skill.
Shastri also said that the next few years will be crucial for Vaibhav. With the right direction and hard work, he can make a name for himself in the cricket world.
