Alastair Cook Highlights Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Unique Batting Style
Alastair Cook Commends Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Veteran England cricketer Alastair Cook has praised Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for his remarkable reaction time, which he believes distinguishes him from more experienced players. Cook noted that Sooryavanshi appears to be patient, waiting to respond even to the fastest deliveries. He emphasized that even top strikers in cricket typically have specific 'slots' where they feel confident hitting the ball. During a discussion on the Stick to Cricket podcast with Michael Vaughan, Phil Tufnell, David Lloyd, and Liam Livingstone, Cook elaborated on what makes Sooryavanshi stand out.
Alastair Cook's Insights on Sooryavanshi
“What’s interesting is that there seems to be no premeditation in his approach,” Cook remarked, highlighting his own technical expertise. “Most batsmen, even the elite ones, are waiting for the ball to be in their preferred hitting zone. They might have a couple of zones. But with Sooryavanshi, he can wait for a 99 mph delivery and still hit it for six with remarkable precision. That’s quite unusual.”
In the IPL 2026 season, Sooryavanshi scored an impressive 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30, hitting 72 sixes and 63 fours. He is set to make his debut for the Indian national team soon and has already established himself as the youngest player to achieve multiple IPL records. Michael Vaughan shared an anecdote from his interaction with Sooryavanshi during the league, which highlighted the young player's unique off-field demeanor. “I was at the pool in Mumbai last week during a crucial match between Rajasthan and Mumbai. Yashasvi Jaiswal came over to chat, and then Sooryavanshi joined us. I expressed my admiration for his playing style and asked how he prepares for matches. He simply replied, ‘Watching cartoons.’ I was taken aback. When I asked about his training, he said, ‘No.’ And when I inquired about his diet, he said, ‘Everything.’ That’s the modern player for you—watching cartoons, eating freely, and smashing the ball out of the park,” Vaughan recounted.