Rajasthan Royals assistant coach Trevor Penney has dismissed concerns surrounding Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s fitness and fielding ability, insisting the teenage sensation is being carefully managed as he continues
his remarkable Indian Premier League campaign.
The 15-year-old opener has been an extraordinary revelation for Indian cricket since he made his debut last year, so much so that he’s getting shouts of being one of the best T20 batters in the world currently. As a child of the T20 era, his batting style is modern, see-ball-hit-ball, with limited running between the wickets — he’s only seven sixes from breaking Chris Gayle’s record of most maximums in an IPL season.
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RR also rarely use him on the field, choosing to sub him out as the impact player whenever possible. Some teams do that with weak fielders, but Penney said that wasn’t the case with Sooryavanshi.
“His running between the wickets is very good,” Penney told reporters. “But he doesn’t really have to run between the wickets too much, does he? He’s just about to break Chris Gayle’s record for sixes.”
Penney also clarified that Sooryavanshi’s limited involvement in fielding duties should not be mistaken for a weakness in that department. According to the former India fielding coach, the Royals management has deliberately reduced the youngster’s workload in the field to ensure he remains mentally and physically fresh for his role at the top of the order.
“He is a very good fielder. He has got great hands, moves well, dives and anticipates,” Penney said. “It has nothing to do with him being a bad fielder. It’s just circumstances and the way it has worked for us.”
The Royals support staff, Penney added, have been especially mindful of protecting the teenager from the pressures that accompany sudden fame and expectations. Despite the attention surrounding him, he said, Sooryavanshi has remained composed and focused within the team environment.
“We don’t really have to talk to him too much, he’s just in his little bubble,” Penney said. “I’ve been in cricket for 40 years and I haven’t seen that before. He’s pretty freaky in the way he’s dealing with it all.”
