Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara recalled a memorable experience involving teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi from the last edition of the Indian Premier League, when he was serving as Rajasthan Royals’ Director of Cricket.
Sangakkara revealed that it was the first time he had watched Sooryavanshi bat in the nets, and what unfolded left everyone in awe.
“I first saw Vaibhav when I came in for a two-week period to Guwahati. And I went to the side, there was this tiny, horrible little side net in terms of facing up to the likes of Archer and Sandeep Sharma and all the fast bowlers with new balls, and no one really wanted to bat there. And I saw this, Vaibhav walking [and telling him], ‘I’ll bat.’ New balls on, and I could just hear the sound of his bat, like a gunshot every single time,” said Sangakkara on Sky Sports.
“And I think he just put Archer to the sword; he put Sandeep Sharma to the sword. So much so that at one time, I think Archer stopped and laughed. Because he was bowling quickly, and this 14-year-old kid was just treating him with absolute disdain,” he added.
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Sangakkara revealed that after watching Sooryavanshi’s breathtaking display in the nets, he immediately told then Rajasthan Royals head coach Rahul Dravid that the teenage sensation was ready to play for the franchise. However, Sooryavanshi did not feature in India’s playing XI for the first T20I against Ireland, where the reigning world champions suffered a crushing defeat to the hosts at Stormont.
“And that’s when I saw him, and my feedback to Rahul, walking out, was, yeah, ready to play anytime you want him to play. Kid’s just incredible,” said Sangakkara.
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Chasing 183 for victory, India were bundled out for 148 in 18.5 overs as Ireland registered a memorable win in the series opener at Stormont. The second and final T20I will be played at the same venue on Sunday.
