Vihaan Malhotra: The Rising Cricket Star from Patiala
Emerging Talent from Patiala
Patiala, known for nurturing cricketing talent, is witnessing the rise of another young star, Vihaan Malhotra. Recently, he made headlines as the top run-scorer during the India U-19 tour of England, amassing an impressive 520 runs. His contributions were pivotal in India's 3-2 victory over England in the five-match Youth ODI series, while both Youth Tests ended in draws.
At just 18 years old, this left-handed batsman has been consistently performing well for Punjab in domestic cricket. Following his success in England, Malhotra has set his ambitions on the IPL and the senior Indian team. "I aspire to be among India's elite and represent the national team. Achieving this will require immense dedication, and I am ready to invest all my efforts into it," he expressed, crediting his coaches Kamal Sandhu and HS Arora for his achievements.
Malhotra's cricket journey began at the tender age of six. He shared, "Both my parents work in government roles. Once I committed to pursuing cricket, they fully supported my choice." His mother serves as a senior doctor, while his father is an engineer in the Punjab soil conservation department.
Throughout the England tour, he scored 277 runs in the Youth Tests and 243 runs in the Youth ODIs, including two centuries—129 runs off 121 balls in the fourth YODI and 120 runs off 123 balls in the second Youth Test. Known for his technical prowess, Malhotra is also a capable right-arm off-spinner, delivering tight spells.
Former Punjab Ranji coach Sunil Saggi remarked, "His performance in the India-England U-19 series has reaffirmed his potential as a future star of Indian cricket. He possesses remarkable mental fortitude in high-pressure situations and a technically sound batting style, which is a rarity. Those familiar with Yuvraj Singh's early days will see similarities in Vihaan's hard-hitting left-handed approach. If he continues to work diligently, he is bound to make it to the Indian team soon."