Vaibhav Suryavanshi punishes Pakistan: Decoding what makes 14-year-old India's future opener

Suryavanshi in action during Rising Stars Asia Cup [Source: SDhawan25/x.com]

The Vaibhav Suryavanshi blitz continued as the Indian opener, who tormented the UAE with a whirlwind 42-ball 144, continued the domination as Pakistan became his next victim. On a tricky surface and against a quality bowling opponent, Suryavanshi smashed 45 off 28 and led India’s charge.

Fear is not there in Suryavanshi’s dictionary, and it was evident as he smacked 5 fours and 3 sixes to play a quick-fire innings. He may not be India’s present in T20Is, but in a couple of years' time, the opening slot is secured as the Rajasthan Royals player will eventually get a place in the side and here’s what makes him a special player.

Hunger for runs

Not many 14-year-old kids are world beaters, but Suryavanshi is, as he has dominated bowlers across formats, but more so in T20s. It’s like the 20-overs format is his playground and the numbers tell the complete story.

(Suryavanshi in T20s)

• He already has 409 runs in nine matches, but the most important part is his astonishing strike rate. The southpaw has no fear of bowlers and he strikes at 240.58, showcasing his brute power at such a young age.
• Sometimes numbers can be deceptive, but in this case, it tells us about Suryavanshi’s prowess and why India rates him so highly, at such a young age. The need of an opener in T20s is to score freely and play aggressively, and the youngster has those tools to become India’s next big thing.

Shades of Virender Sehwag in his batting

• Too early to call Suryavanshi, the next Virender Sehwag of India, but the early signs are clear - he has shades of him when he bats. Sehwag was not the most technically sound player, but his hand-eye coordination was the best in the business and it made him a world beater, even on difficult conditions when others struggled.
• Suryavanshi, just like Sehwag, has a clear game-plan - see the ball, hit it!. This is what made Sehwag one of the best openers in the world, and if the youngster follows the same footsteps, he could soon become India’s next opener.

His IPL performances gave glimpses of his future

(Suryavanshi in IPL)

• Just seven matches played and 252 runs already, with a strike rate of 206 showcases his calibre against some of the best bowlers in the world. IPL is where the best T20 bowlers from the globe play, and to perform against them showcases Suryavanshi’s immense self-belief.
• Who could forget his century against GT in the IPL league match? That day he hammered Rashid Khan for fun, and such a brute batting display tells us one clear thing - in the next couple of years, Suryavanshi will open alongside Abhishek Sharma in T20Is.

Final verdict

At such 14, Suryavanshi has the world at his feet, and the opener continues his rapid stride in the ongoing Rising Stars Asia Cup by hammering Pakistan. India surely have a gem at their hands, and don’t be surprised if by 16, he becomes India’s youngest T20I opener.

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