Vaibhav Sooryavanshi follows the only mantra when he walks out on the field – if the ball is within his area, he will launch. No matter who the bowler is, the teenager smashes it out of the park if he gets it in his arc. Sooryavanshi has completed a year in the Indian Premier League, having made his debut last season against Lucknow Super Giants. Since then, he has been a crucial cog in the Rajasthan Royals’ arsenal.
Even in the ongoing season, Sooryavanshi has been the Rajasthan Royals’ highest run-getter. He has scored 246 runs in 6 matches at an average of 41.00 and a breathtaking strike rate of 236.54. In fact, Sooryavanshi himself confessed in an interview that if he stays at the crease for long, he can take the game away from the opposition.
“Main jitni der bhi ground pe hoon, utni der mein dominate karke agar khelu, to match unke haath se chheen sakta hoon [For whatever duration I am on the ground, as long as I am using my skills, dominate and play, I can snatch the match from opponents’ hands],” Sooryavanshi said on Doordarshan.
“Maine apne father se bhi baat ki – hamesha bola ki mera aadha dream poora ho gaya hai, aadha abhi baaki hai. [I also spoke to my father. He said I have fulfilled half of his dream, but half is still left]. I need to play in the World Cup for the senior Indian team. Of course, every player shares the same dream: to play for the seniors and win for their country, India. That is my focus for India],” he said.
In 13 IPL matches so far in his career, he has scored 498 runs at an average of 38.30, with a strike rate of 220.35, including a century and three fifties. He has smashed 42 fours and 44 sixes off 226 balls.
