Former England pacer Stuart Broad said he can’t wait to watch 15-year-old Indian batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in action during the upcoming T20I series in the UK, admitting he may even be “surprised” if he sees the youngster in the series opener in Durham.Sooryavanshi, who recently stunned the cricket world with a record List-A fifty from just 11 balls against Sri Lanka A, has been included in India’s 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 everything” – Broad amazed by the rapid growth
Broad, speaking on the For the Love of Cricket podcast, was full of praise for the teenager’s explosive rise and fearless approach.“He’s got everything, hasn’t he? He’s got everything. He’s even putting in sledging now. OK, cricket is too easy. 11 balls. It’s crazy. I’m sure you probably don’t expect it, but I made the first T20 up in Durham against India, which is it, July 1, I really hope to play. honest, I think I might be surprised by it,” said Broad.He also highlighted the conversations in the cricket circles which also fueled the excitement around the youngster.“And you know what? It’s not just us buying into the hype. I mean, you’ve obviously seen it, you’ve kept up with it. I spent the week with Dinesh Kartik, who’s one of the coaches, an assistant coach at RCB. And of course, I’m like, seriously, what do you think of this incredible guy. You can’t get over how good this kid is,” he added while addressing a fellow panelist. Jos Buttler.Broad noted that much of the UK has only seen highlights and heard “whispers” about Sooryavanshi’s talent, raising anticipation ahead of his potential debut on English soil.“Obviously, on this side of England, people only hear whispers really and see big bits of footage. But to hear the guys who see him week in, week out, this kid is on a different level,” he said.
Buttler lives up to the hype as England prepare for the challenge
Former England white-ball captain Jos Buttler also acknowledged the extraordinary impact Sooryavanshi made at such a young age.“Listen to this. Hit an 11-ball 50 for India A, the fastest half-century in the history of List A 50-over cricket. So there it is again,” said Buttler.“It’s something we’ve never seen before … he worries about how many records and things he keeps ticking off so quickly. So, yes, we need to keep quiet as an England side in those T20S. No, it’s a different level. Absolutely. And actually quite cool,” he added.
