Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden has praised India’s young batting talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, saying the teenager has the ability to succeed in all three formats of international cricket.
Speaking to ANI, Hayden highlighted Sooryavanshi’s confidence, courage, mental strength, and ability to perform under pressure. He believes these qualities could help the young batter build a successful career in Test, ODI, and T20 cricket.
Impressive T20I Performance
Sooryavanshi, who is just 15 years old, recently produced an excellent performance in the T20I series against Zimbabwe.
He scored 151 runs in three matches, helping India complete a 3-0 series sweep. His performances also earned him his first Player of the Series award at the international level.
The young batter had already made history earlier by becoming India’s youngest player to make an international debut during the T20I series against England.
Hayden Believes He Can Play Test Cricket
Some people believe Sooryavanshi’s aggressive batting style may make him more suited to shorter formats such as T20 cricket.
Hayden does not agree with that view. The former Australian opener believes the youngster has the potential to succeed in longer formats as well.
According to Hayden, mental strength is extremely important for Test cricket. Physical fitness is important, but the ability to stay focused, handle pressure, and remain patient can be even more important over long matches.
Strong IPL Performance
Sooryavanshi has also impressed at the Indian Premier League (IPL). Playing for the Rajasthan Royals, he showed that he could perform against experienced international bowlers.
His performances in the tournament attracted considerable attention and demonstrated his ability to handle pressure in one of the world’s biggest T20 competitions.
Hayden was particularly impressed by the youngster’s confidence and ability to perform at such a high level at a very young age.
Success at Under-19 World Cup
Sooryavanshi’s achievements are not limited to senior-level cricket.
Earlier this year, he made a major impact at the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup, scoring 439 runs during the tournament.
His performances earned him the Player of the Tournament award and further increased expectations around his future.
A Bright Future Ahead
Sooryavanshi has already achieved several milestones at an unusually young age. His performances across domestic cricket, the IPL, Under-19 cricket, and international T20Is have shown his potential.
However, Hayden also pointed out that the young batter still has a long way to go. Success at the highest level requires consistency, fitness, discipline, and the ability to deal with pressure over many years.
For now, Sooryavanshi’s rapid rise has made him one of the most exciting young players to watch in Indian cricket.
If he continues to develop his skills and maintains his mental strength, he could eventually become an important player for India across all three formats of the game.