India’s former wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik praised teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, calling him a rare talent capable of rewriting T20 records, while also urging the youngster to stay grounded amid the growing limelight.The 15-year-old batting prodigy has emerged as one of India’s brightest prospects after his remarkable rise in the domestic and IPL. Likely to make his senior India debut during the ongoing T20I series against England, expectations around Sooryavanshi continue to rise.Speaking about the youngster’s potential on Sky Sports, Karthik highlighted Sooryavanshi’s fearless mentality and ability to score freely against any opposition.“I think it’s just his ability to score all over the ground and the pace at which he bats. The fact that he is not fazed by who his opponent stands out. This fearlessness is a special quality,” said Karthik.While acknowledging the teenager’s immense talent, Karthik reminded everyone that every young cricketer goes through challenging phases, both on and off the field.“Like everyone in life, I’m sure he will face challenges with his batting and things that happen away from cricket. He needs to learn to deal with these situations. Now, everything looks rosy, but the hardest days are coming,” he added.Asked how far Sooryavanshi could go in the game, Karthik left little room for doubt.“The sky is the limit. I really feel he can become an extraordinary T20 batsman, and I don’t see why he can’t break a lot of records in the format,” he said.“My only advice would be to learn to deal with the noise off the field in a healthy way because it will be his biggest challenge in today’s world,” concluded Karthik.
India take on England in Manchester
India and England will look to break the deadlock when they meet in the second T20I at Old Trafford, Manchester, after the series opener in Durham was washed out by rain. Despite no result, India had taken confidence from posting a competitive 189/7, fueled by half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma and captain Shreyas Iyer.