Is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ready for India debut?

Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin couldn’t hide his amazement after teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi produced a breathtaking performance in the Under-19 Cricket World Cup final against England. The 14-year-old opener tore into the bowling attack, reaching his century in just 55 balls - the second quickest hundred ever recorded in a U19 World Cup final.

Sooryavanshi went on to script a knock for the ages, piling up a staggering 175 runs from only 80 deliveries. His innings was powered by a flurry of boundaries, including 15 fours and 15 sixes, as he struck the ball at a phenomenal rate of 218.75.

Reacting on social media platform X, Ashwin described the innings as nothing short of extraordinary. He also pointed out that the young batter had already shown his big-match credentials in the semifinal, where he smashed 68 off just 33 balls, laced with nine boundaries and four maximums, while adding 90 runs with Aaron George in a steep chase of over 300.

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“175 off 80 balls in a U19 World Cup final, with 15 fours and 15 sixes  and nearly 86 percent of his runs coming in boundaries. That’s beyond absurd,” Ashwin wrote. “This comes right after his 68 off 33 in the semifinals while chasing a massive target. Vaibhav has completely owned the biggest stage, like he was made for it. A genuine prodigy with ice-cold temperament in pressure games.”

Ashwin further highlighted Sooryavanshi’s dominance throughout the tournament, noting that the youngster finished as the leading run-scorer with 439 runs at an average of 62.71 and an explosive strike rate of 169.49. “A strike rate of 170 in T20 cricket is elite,” he added, pointing out that Sooryavanshi smashed 30 sixes in the competition, with over 78 percent of his runs coming via boundaries.

Making a bold forecast, Ashwin suggested that the prodigy’s rapid rise could soon lead him to the highest level. “He’s banging hard on the doors of international cricket. Don’t be shocked if those doors open sooner rather than later, especially after the T20 World Cup,” he said.