Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has praised 15-year-old Rajasthan Royals batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after the youngster scored a 15-ball half-century against Chennai Super Kings. Kaif had initially doubted whether Sooryavanshi was being “hyped too early,” but now believes he is ready for bigger challenges.
Kaif shared his thoughts on X (formerly Twitter), saying he feared Sooryavanshi might not live up to the hype last season. However, after seeing his performance this year, Kaif now thinks the young player is prepared to move to higher levels of cricket. He also mentioned that Sooryavanshi can both entertain and deliver crucial scores.
Chennai Super Kings faced setbacks even before the match began, losing key players MS Dhoni and Dewald Brevis due to injuries. After losing the toss, their batting lineup struggled, with Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad falling early. The team lost four wickets in the first six overs and ended up scoring only 127.
In response, Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal gave Rajasthan Royals a strong start, ensuring their victory. Sooryavanshi’s half-century within the powerplay was instrumental in the win.
Reflecting on his performance, Sooryavanshi said the plan was to execute well in the powerplay. Initially, he found the wicket tricky, but as the game progressed, it became easier. He emphasized focusing on defense and controlling the game during the powerplay, which proved crucial in a low-scoring chase.
The youngster also credited his coaches, Kumar Sangakkara and Vikram Rathore, for advising him to play naturally and adapt to the situation.