NEW DELHI: Captain Ireland Lorcan Tucker was left in awe of the anticipation surrounding 15-year-old Indian batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ahead of the upcoming T20I series, calling his growth “quite incredible” for the modern professional era.“It’s pretty incredible for them to have a 15-year-old on their team,” Tucker said in the pre-match press conference Thursday.“I never thought it was possible in this professional era of the game, especially with the amount of work that goes into professional cricket and the standard of players. So, credit to him – he’s a pretty special player,” he said.Tucker also highlighted the wider excitement generated by the youth’s emergence, particularly among Ireland’s large Indian community.“We have a big Indian community in Ireland who I know will be massively ready to watch this game, and they will see Vaibhav. That’s what most of the hype is about, about him making his debut in this series,” he added.Reflecting on Sooryavanshi’s rapid rise, Tucker added: “He’s obviously an absolutely incredible talent. We’ve tried to do as much research as we can on him. I think he blew the IPL, the incredible hit 75 sixes or whatever it was, as the skill level is absolutely incredible.”He also underlined the wider impact of the teenage emergency on sport.“It gives the game something to talk about. It’s really exciting. The energy like that that comes in a series is fabulous not only for us, but for the people who come to watch, for the people who see at home, and for those kids who play in the corner,” he said.Tucker also acknowledged Sooryavanshi’s role as a growing global figure in the game.“As much as we try to be role models for the Irish players, I think it’s the responsibility, I think, of all the players around the world to be role models. So I know Vaibhav is just a boy, but he’s still an incredible player, and he’s a pretty special role model for cricketers all over the world now and kids coming through,” he further added.
Ireland prepare for ‘baptism by fire’ against India
Regarding the series itself, Tucker admitted that his side face a steep challenge against the T20 World Cup holders, especially with an injured bowling attack.“I think it’s a bit of a baptism by fire, and it’s a tough challenge at first,” he said. “But I think just to trust that at the end of the day, it’s a game of cricket… As incredible as the Indian players are, they still have a lot of pressure on them.”Ireland were forced into changes, with Reuben Wilson, Matthew Hollard and Jai Moondra stepping in for injured pacers Mark Adair, Josh Little and Barry McCarthy. Tucker backed Moondra to make an impact despite his inexperience.“He’s shown real skill with the new ball… He’s got all the skills,” he said.Looking ahead, Tucker stressed that early developments would be vital if Ireland were to challenge India’s aggressive batting unit.“We know that they are a formidable lineup … they have to come out of all attacks. The pitch should probably be a little on the slower side than what they are used to. So hopefully, that can make the difference for us,” he said.