Ravichandran Ashwin Praises Young Cricket Sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Ashwin Commends Sooryavanshi's Skills

Ravichandran Ashwin, the former Indian cricketer, has expressed admiration for 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi of the Rajasthan Royals (RR). He highlighted the young player's strategic mindset and his fearless approach against seasoned bowlers, despite his age. Ashwin suggested that Sooryavanshi should also explore red-ball cricket.

Sooryavanshi made history as the youngest player in IPL at just 14 years old, debuting against the Lucknow Super Giants. He impressively hit a massive six off his very first ball, marking a memorable start to his IPL career. Notably, he was also Ashwin's last wicket in the IPL, scoring a half-century against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Delhi. Since then, he has evolved into a more audacious player, confidently facing elite bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Josh Hazlewood, often hitting boundaries right from the first ball.

Ashwin Discusses Tactical Challenges

During his appearance on 'The Ravichandran Ashwin Experience' on JioHotstar, Ashwin shared insights about the tactical challenges he faced while bowling to Sooryavanshi. He noted the changes in cricket dynamics, particularly how younger players today are adept at hitting spinners off their lengths. Ashwin explained his strategy of bowling fuller deliveries with drift to outsmart the young talent. He recounted a moment where Sooryavanshi adjusted his shot mid-swing, executing a reverse sweep that left Ashwin impressed.

Ashwin emphasized the importance of allowing Sooryavanshi to develop naturally without undue pressure. He acknowledged that at such a young age, one might expect some hesitation against formidable bowlers, but Sooryavanshi displayed remarkable composure and tactical awareness. Ashwin believes that this combination of skill and clarity under pressure makes him a formidable player.

Sooryavanshi's Impressive Statistics

This season, Sooryavanshi stands out as RR's leading run-scorer, accumulating 404 runs in 10 innings with an average of 40.40 and an impressive strike rate of 237.64, including one century and two fifties. Over 17 IPL matches, he has amassed 656 runs at an average of 38.58 and a strike rate of 224.65, featuring two centuries and three fifties, with a top score of 103.

In T20 formats, Sooryavanshi has excelled, scoring 1,105 runs in 28 matches at an average of 40.92 and a strike rate of 215.39, which includes four centuries and three fifties, with a best score of 144. His List-A cricket performance is also noteworthy, with 353 runs in eight innings at an average of 44.12 and a strike rate of 164.95, including one century and one fifty, with a top score of 190.

U19 World Cup Achievements

In the recent U19 World Cup, Sooryavanshi emerged as the second-highest run-scorer, amassing 439 runs in seven matches at an average of 62.71 and a strike rate of 169.49, featuring one century and three fifties, with a best score of 175. He set a record by hitting 30 sixes during the tournament, surpassing the previous record of 18 sixes held by South Africa's Dewald Brevis. Additionally, he is recognized as India's leading run-scorer in U19 ODIs, with 1,412 runs in 25 innings at an average of 56.48, including four centuries and seven fifties, with a best score of 175.

Red-Ball Cricket Performance

However, in red-ball cricket, Sooryavanshi has scored only 207 runs in eight matches and 12 innings, averaging 17.25, with one fifty to his name.