Vaibhav Suryavanshi, India's 14-year-old prodigy, delivered a breathtaking 171-run blitz against UAE in the Under-19 Men's Asia Cup opener on Friday. His
explosive effort propelled India to a towering 433 in 50 overs at Dubai's ICC Academy Ground.
Sooryavanshi raced to his ton off 56 balls, ending unbeaten on 171 from 95 deliveries, laced with nine fours and a record-breaking 14 sixes at a scorching strike rate of 180. This performance shattered the Youth ODI mark for most sixes in an innings, eclipsing Australia's Michael Hill's 12 sixes in a 124-run knock against Namibia U19 back in 2008.
A blistering knock from the southpaw has put him in the limelight again, but the youngster's coach expects even bigger returns from his disciple. MyKhel caught up with Manish Ojha, Vaibhav's Guru in Bihar, and he spoke highly about the youngster, but reiterated the importance of reaching loftier heights.
"The way he was batting, I was seeing that double century today. He batted till 32nd over, in that he reached in 171. If he had played 10-15 more balls, it would have been a double century, it would have been a world record. Anyway, what he has done is also very commendable. But there is no limit to greatness. A person should enhance his performance and excellence at every step," Ojha said to MyKhel in an exclusive chat.
Since his meteoric rise in the IPL, the youngster has been breaking barriers and reaching new heights. Albeit for the under-19 team, he has been a shining star of Indian future in terms of batting. He has performed exceedingly well in the IPL and has continued his purple patch for India in the Emerging Asia Cup and in the u-19 tours as well. Although the T20 World Cup and a possible senior team experience seems a far-fetched theory, his coach believes the youngster has it all to deliver at the biggest stage of international cricket.
"I believe he's absolutely ready for a break in Indian team. Look at his IPL performances-he faced international bowlers, domestic stars, and even India players with fearless strokeplay, smashing big shots against the best. In U-19 cricket, whether it was the England tour, Australia's, or the Asia Cup-across emerging teams, every field, every pitch, every condition-he's dominated. He's consistent against all types of bowlers, delivering massive hundreds every time.
In my view, he's perfectly ready T20 chance. Team India management or the BCCI could slot him into the World Cup squad, and I'm 100% confident he'll keep progressing if given the chance. "
