Former India opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth has said 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has become one of the biggest reasons people are following domestic cricket at the moment. Born on 27 March 2011 in Bihar, the left-handed opener has already broken a number of records across formats. He made his Team India debut as a teenager against England having made a name for himself with Rajasthan Royals in the IPL by winning the orange cap and smashing explosive hundreds and impressive strike rates. He also played an important role in India’s Under-19 World Cup victory, scoring a memorable 175 off just 80 balls in the Final. 

Speaking on his YouTube channel about the youngster’s performances in the Duleep Trophy, Srikkanth said, “Everyone watched the Duleep Trophy because of him. Even my wife is watching because of him.” He also feels that if Sooryavanshi is handled well and gets the right backing, the teenager could go on to become a superstar and perhaps play a part in bringing Test cricket back to its glory days. 

Srikkanth believes Sooryavanshi has the ability to succeed at every level, but at the same time, he has stressed the importance of encouraging the youngster instead of putting him down. At an age when most cricketers are still trying to find their feet in age-group cricket, Sooryavanshi is already attracting attention well beyond his own performances. 

“He played incredibly well. How can people even doubt whether this boy is capable of playing higher-level cricket? He can play every level of cricket, and he is going to rule world cricket shortly in all formats. He’s smashing medium pacers with no worries for straight sixes in red-ball cricket. He’s toying with the bowlers,” he said.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Creates History With Record-Breaking Fifty in Duleep Trophy Semi-Final

Before this Duleep Trophy campaign, he had played eight matches and scored  207 runs at an average close to 17, with a highest score of 93. In the Duleep Trophy semi-final, the left hander broke plenty of records when he smashed an excellent 92 off 81 balls against Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy semi-final for East Zone. The innings included seven fours and seven sixes. That knock also brought another record for Sooryavanshi. At 15 years and 157 days, he became the youngest player to score a fifty in Duleep Trophy history, breaking a record that had been standing since 1969. The previous record was held by Laxman Singh, who had reached the milestone at the age of 16 years and 23 days.

Sooryavanshi got to his half-century in just 42 balls, hitting a six to reach the milestone, and also put together a useful opening partnership with Abhimanyu Easwaran. He eventually missed another major record when he was dismissed eight runs short of becoming the youngest centurion in Duleep Trophy history. That record remains with Sachin Tendulkar, who achieved it at 17 years and 262 days. Sooryavanshi was also given the responsibility of being East Zone’s vice-captain for the tournament, which is quite a role for a player who is only 15. He will be playing in the Duleep Trophy Final against South Zone which starts on 6th September before he leaves for India’s T20Is against Afghanistan and Asian Games.