Age 15, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stands firmly in the world of emerging youngsters and blossoms into one of the most popular and exciting young players in Indian cricket.
The teenage batting sensation attracted fire with his fearless game against some of the best fast bowlers in world cricket -- people of years-old stature who have been playing very regularly in international contests and elite T20 leagues. The only thing that makes Vaibhav even more remarkable is his confidence and maturity, so young for him, and yet his success.
Although most teenagers might be intimidated by experienced international bowlers, Vaibhav looks downright unbothered. The kid’s aggressive and fearless style, whether it’s raw pace, swing, bounce or running under pressure, is something that has shocked fans, experts and former cricketers all around.
Vaibhav became a key talking point in the Premier League last year, when he rocked the team’s field with his blazing stroke play and ability to make those top-end bowling attacks happen. The teenager managed to score two centuries in a tournament with established international stars, something rare for players of any Indian country, and not at the age of 15 years old.
His quick wins made him a young talent immediately in the news. Fans of cricket could scarcely even imagine the poise with which he managed to navigate world-class bowlers in high-pressure scenarios. Far from merely surviving an elite attack, Vaibhav put them under his thumb by way of fearless strokes and incredible timing.
Some of the largest names in fast bowling have even experienced his ability. But a young Jasprit Bumrah, a master of the deadly yorkers and accuracy, is no stranger to it, and he has seen the little lad attack pace bowling with confidence. In competitive matches, Vaibhav’s fearless batting style has been experienced by Australian captain Pat Cummins and South African speedster Kagiso Rabada.
Vaibhav doesn’t merely choose his shots; he also thinks about them as well. Many younger cricketers are not initially too good at facing off against established international players because the pressure and name are already on some of these players' shoulders.
Vaibhav’s eyes, on the ball in front of him, but not the bowler delivering, seem to dwell. It's this fearless stance that has enabled him to have a raw edge like no one else, to be able to play at the crease, to play naturally. Cricket experts say his intensity (as he is) and technique stand him in good stead for Indian cricket.
Many commentators have said, however, that more than ever in the era of T20 cricket, it is essential from the beginning for players who can deal with pressure and attack great cricket balls under pressure with great bowling from the start, which they have to be able to do, and Vaibhav looks comfortable playing that type of role at a young age, despite his relatively young debut.
Vaibhav also speaks to the evolution of Indian cricket as a whole, where younger players are now entering the game from much earlier and being exposed to a larger and broader scope of the game at a very high level of competition, earlier than the level of playing time of their peers than before.
Advanced coaching, fitness training and franchise cricketing experiences, combined with their ease with highly skilled cricketing exposure, have changed that equation so much that talented adolescents can now compete with global stars with the help of elite education, fitness and franchise cricketing.
On social media, fans have begun to compare Vaibhav’s confident game to some of India’s biggest batting icons. Comparing at a young age is perhaps premature, but the boy definitely does have enormous confidence and natural ability. But expert opinion is also that managing expectations will matter.
Young talents are often under tremendous pressure if they're successful for much of this time in cricket-mad nations such as India. The challenge for Vaibhav in the future is maintaining consistency, managing the fame, and technically improving his abilities.
For now, yet, the world of cricket is just content to see the birth of a fearless young batter who feels ready to run on at anyone who has any reputation at all, no pace, zero expertise in anything. By 15, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is already showing signs that he might become one of India's next big stars.
