former england pacer Stuart Broad Says he can’t wait to watch 15-year-old Indian batting star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi perform in the upcoming T20I series in England, admitting that he might even be “starstruck” if he sees the youngster in the series opener in Durham.Suryavansh, who recently shocked the cricketing world with his record-breaking fifty from 11 balls against Sri Lanka A, has been included in the Indian senior squad for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England. The left-handed batsman has quickly become one of the most talked-about young talents in world cricket.
‘He has it all’ – Broad surprised by rapid rise
Speaking on the For the Love of Cricket podcast, Broad was full of praise for the teenager’s explosive rise and fearless performances.“He’s got it all, hasn’t he? He’s got it all. He’s even started sledging now. Well, cricket is so easy. 11 balls. It’s crazy. I’m sure you might not hope, but I’m playing the first T20 against India in Durham, what is that, July 1?… I just want him to play. I really, I really have to be honest, I think I’m probably smitten with him,” Broad said.He also highlighted the conversations within the cricketing community that have further fueled the excitement for the youngster.“You know what? It’s not just us who believe the hype. I mean, you’ve obviously met him, you’ve been following him. I spent a week with Dinesh Karthik, one of the coaches, the assistant coach at RCB. Of course, I thought, seriously, what do you think of this guy? He’s unbelievable. He’s really unbelievable. You can’t imagine how good this kid is,” he added while addressing the panel. Jos Buttler.Broad notes that much of the UK has only seen highlights and heard “whispers” of Sooryavanshi’s talent, adding to anticipation for his possible debut on British soil.“Obviously, on this side of England, people just hear the real whispers and see the highlight reels. But hearing those who see him week in, week out, this kid is on a different level,” he said.
Buttler backs up hype as England prepare to challenge
Former England white-ball captain Jos Buttler also acknowledged the extraordinary impact Suryavanshi had made at such a young age.“Listen to this. An 11-ball fifty for India A, the fastest half-century in the history of Category A 50-over cricket. So he started again,” Butler said.“It’s something we’ve never seen before… He’s worried about how many records and things he can break so quickly. So, yes, we need to keep him quiet for England in the T20S. No, he’s on a different level. Absolutely. And it’s actually pretty cool,” he added.
