Vaibhav Suryavanshi scripts an epic knock in Vijay Hazare Trophy
If domestic cricket needed an advertisement, a push by way of performances, a 14-year-old boy from Bihar answering to the name of Vaibhav Suryavanshi smashed his way into the record books on Wednesday. Turning out for Bihar in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Vaibhav the sensation was ruthless as he smashed the Arunachal attack all over the park. To score 190 was not the only important thing. When Vaibhav raced to his 100 off 36 balls, he had woken up the global cricketing world.
Usually, Indian domestic cricket gets a brief mention in news or social media. This time, thanks to Rohit Sharma regaling the crowd in Jaipur on Wednesday, Virat Kohli showing hunger in Bengaluru, though, not at the Chinnaswamy Stadium but the BCCI’s Centre for Excellence, it was Vaibhav who exploded. This is a record in many ways from the boy who is 14 years and 272 days old. By also getting to his 150 in quick time, he had eclipsed the record of legend AB de Villiers. AB, as he is popularly known, had scored 150 runs in 64 balls in a List A match. Vaibhav was faster, needing just 59 balls, which puts in perspective how he is growing fast.
Earlier this summer, turning out for Rajasthan Royals, Vaibhav had smashed a six off the very first ball he had faced in the IPL. People said this kind of aggression was a rarity. Uniquely, Vaibhav has also come in for criticism from social media recently while turning out for the India under-19 side. Such attacks on a youngster stink, since Vaibhav is still a teen, a kid. At this age, cricketers are still learning skills at nets and throwdowns, plus focusing on growth in a physical sense. There is also a genuine fear expressed by old-timers that throwing Vaibhav into the deep end of the pool too early was not required. This is the Vijay Hazare Trophy, a platform for young and old to show the world they can still bat. The contrast is stark, Vijay is batting to show he can soak pressure and play big, explosive innings, even as the stalwarts – RoKo -- are cranking up their game. They have been asked to, by the BCCI. Nobody is complaining.
No cliche, cricket is gaining from these performances, though Vaibhav will be talked about for long. At his age, there is no need to brag about him or say he is the next “Tendulkar” or “Kohli.” Let him just be the innocent Vaibhav from Bihar, who knows praise comes loud when doing well and criticism is harsh when there are failures. After all, during the under-19 Asia Cup final in Dubai recently, where India lost to Pakistan, Vaibhav was booed.
At home, in India, heartless hacks have questioned his temperament. To have said that he has attitude or is arrogant is a mere perception. No athlete can be meek and hope to scale the heights. And in the case of Vaibhav Suryavanshi, he is enjoying his cricket.
Period.
