NEW DELHI: India teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has revealed how a timely conversation with his coach helped him overcome a difficult phase and return to his destructive best in the final of the Tri-Series against Sri Lanka A in Dambulla.The 15-year-old smashed a breathtaking 94 from just 29 balls, including the fastest List A half-century in history off just 11 deliveries, as India A beat Sri Lanka A by 66 runs to lift the title.But the record-breaking run came after a lean run in the tournament and growing scrutiny over his form and temperament following an on-field altercation during India A’s previous meeting with Sri Lanka A.“When classes don’t come, I sit with Hrishi [Hrishikesh Kanitkar] Sir to discuss a few things and gave me a free hand to play freely,” Sooryavanshi told Sportstar after the final.“These conditions were slightly different, so he launched some challenges initially. So, I was trying too hard, but I was not able to execute the plans. That’s when he told me: “tu apna natural game khel, zyada soch mat” (play your natural game and don’t think too much about anything else). he said.
“There was no pressure on me”
Coming into the clash at the top, Sooryavanshi had managed just 117 runs in four innings and had struggled to convert starts on the slower surfaces in Sri Lanka.However, the left-hander insisted that the pressure never entered his mind despite the criticism surrounding him.“There was no pressure on me,” said Sooryavanshi. “When I went to bat, the idea was to execute what I had planned in the first ten overs and then take it forward. It works…”His stunning onslaught effectively settled the contest in the first ten overs. India A raced to 132 in just nine overs before posting 377/9. Sri Lanka A were then bowled out for 311 in 47.1 overs.
Sri Lanka captain salutes Sooryavanshi
Sri Lanka A captain Sahan Arachchige admittedly Sooryavanshi’s blitz put his side on the back foot immediately.“Sooryavanshi played a brilliant innings. We managed the innings nicely there, but he dropped it in the last two overs,” said Arachchige.“When we are chasing a big point, the top order can go down very quickly. It happens. The youngsters did well, the seniors also scored. It was a good tournament,” he added.With an India T20 debut expected later this month, Sooryavanshi’s latest masterclass served as another reminder that even during difficult periods, trusting his natural instincts remains his greatest strength.
