In the Indian Premier League (IPL), 15-year-old Rajasthan Royals opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stunned fans with his audacious display against superstar bowler Jasprit Bumrah. Facing Bumrah for the first time, Sooryavanshi immediately hit him over the wide long-on fence for a six, and three balls later, repeated the feat with a pull shot over deep backward square leg, showcasing his fearlessness and rare talent. Bumrah smiled in response, but the teenage batsman's aggressive approach set the tone for the match.
In a rain-shortened 11-overs-a-side contest in Guwahati, Sooryavanshi hammered 39 runs off 14 balls and put on 80 runs with opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal, who remained unbeaten on 77, leading Rajasthan Royals to a 27-run victory. Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya praised Sooryavanshi's performance as "fascinating," noting his "amazing" batting style and "fearlessness" in taking on one of the world's best bowlers.
Sooryavanshi also took on senior pace bowler Trent Boult from New Zealand, pummeling an attempted yorker into the crowd over backward square leg. However, his blistering knock was cut short by a stunning catch in the deep by Tilak Varma after he attempted another big hit off Shardul Thakur, leaving Sooryavanshi angry and covering his face in frustration as he trudged back to the pavilion.
Player of the match Yashasvi Jaiswal, who watched the blitz from the other end, described Sooryavanshi's play as "tremendous" and highlighted his hard work and deep understanding of the game. Jaiswal added that he feels motivated by Sooryavanshi's approach and encourages him to play freely. Sooryavanshi made history in last year's IPL with a dazzling debut season, including a 35-ball century—the second fastest in T20 tournament history.
This edition, he started with a blazing fifty, living up to high expectations and earning praise from former cricketers like spin legend Anil Kumble, who suggested the prodigy should be fast-tracked into the senior Indian national team. Sooryavanshi has already made his mark at the youth international level, hammering 175 off 80 balls in India's victory over England in the Under-19 World Cup final in February.
Source: www.aljazeera.com