former england pacer Stuart Broad Says he can’t wait to watch 15-year-old Indian batting star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi perform in the upcoming T20I series in England, admitting he might even be “starstruck” if he sees the youngster in the series opener in Durham.Suryavansh, who recently shocked the cricketing world with his record-breaking fifty from 11 balls against Sri Lanka A, has been included in the Indian senior squad for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England. The left-handed batsman has quickly become one of the most talked-about young talents in world cricket.
‘He has it all’ – Broad surprised by rapid rise
Speaking on the For the Love of Cricket podcast, Broad was full of praise for the teenager’s explosive rise and fearless performances.“He’s got it all, hasn’t he? He’s got it all. He’s even started sledging now. Well, cricket is so easy. 11 balls. It’s crazy. I’m sure you probably don’t want it, but I’m playing the first T20 against India at Durham, what is that, July 1? … I just hope he can bat. I really, I really have to say he’s telling the truth.He also highlighted the conversations within the cricketing community which further fueled the excitement for the youngster.“You know what? It’s not just us who believe the hype. I mean, you’ve obviously met him, you’ve been following him. I spent a week with Dinesh Karthik, one of the coaches, the assistant coach at RCB. Of course, I thought, seriously, what do you think of this guy? He’s unbelievable. He’s really unbelievable. You can’t imagine how good this kid is,” he said to one panel. “He’s unbelievable.” Jos Buttler.Broad notes that much of the UK has only seen highlights and heard “whispers” of Sooryavanshi’s talent, adding to anticipation for his possible debut on British soil.“Obviously, on this side of England, people are just hearing real whispers and seeing loads of footage. But hearing from those who are seeing him week in and week out, this kid is on a different level,” he said.
Buttler backs up hype as England prepare to challenge
Former England white-ball captain Jos Buttler also acknowledged the extraordinary impact Suryavanshi had made at such a young age.“Listen to this. An 11-ball fifty for India A, the fastest half-century in the history of Category A fifty-over cricket. So he started again,” Butler said.“It’s something we’ve never seen before… He’s worried about how many records and things he can break so quickly. So, yes, we need to keep him quiet for England in the T20s. No, he’s on a different level. Absolutely. And it’s actually pretty cool,” he added.
