Former India head coach Ravi Shastri said that he was in awe of Rajasthan Royals’ talented youngster Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s record-breaking IPL century and the way he had started his cricketing career. However, Shastri has called for patience with Vaibhav after he became the youngest male cricketer to score a T20 century as well.
However, Vaibhav’s blistering 101 off 38 balls with seven fours and 11 sixes helped Rajasthan Royals clinch a stunning eight-wicket win over Gujarat Titans. The hundred came off only 35 deliveries, making it the second-fastest in IPL history, behind only the legendary Chris Gayle’s iconic 30-ball hundred as well.
Shastri, speaking on The ICC Review with Sanjana Ganesan, said, “I think the first shot he ever played (against Lucknow), that would have taken everyone’s breath away. He’s young, just let him play. At that age, there’s bound to be failure as well,” Shastri warned. “It’s how he handles failure, as people will come up with new things.”
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Shastri also predicted that Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s next challenge would be handling pace and bounce as well, especially the barrage of short-pitched bowling as well. He also believes how the young left-hander adjusts to this tactical shift will help in his development and readiness for higher honours as well.
“There’ll be lots of short stuff thrown at him the next time he comes out to bat. When you tonk someone’s first ball for six, you show no mercy. You don’t care if he’s 14, 12, or 20 – the menu is the same,” Shastri further added. “Once we see him handling that, then you can make a proper judgement.”
Meanwhile, South African cricket legend Shaun Pollock also praised Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s historic century for Rajasthan Royals.
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Speaking to Cricbuzz, Pollock said, “For me, this is the greatest individual performance ever in the IPL. It has to be. I mean, a 14-year-old to go out there, smash it around, and get a hundred off 35 balls,” Pollock said. “There have been great victories and great performances over the years, but this has to be the greatest performance in IPL history.”
“I honestly thought corporal punishment for kids was done and dusted. Well, he’s just come out as a school and handed some serious corporal punishment today. He absolutely smashed them. Some of these players have been playing IPL for four years before he was even born. And he just walked out and completely dictated terms,” he concluded.
