- Cricket connoisseurs, experts, ex-players, and crazy fans around the world were highly impressed and excited with the arrival of the sensational and once-in-a-generation prodigiously talented Vaibhav Suryavanshi onto the international scene. All of 15 years old and blessed with such power, talent, verve, and cool demeanor, Vaibhav made an immediate impact in the highly competitive Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 tournament representing the Rajasthan Royals franchise in the last two years. One of the most astonishing features of this young, talented cricketer is the naturally blessed nonchalant body language as well as the no overt display of nerves usually associated with anyone of his age while batting. This is where Vaibhav scores over others by a mile.
PC: The Times of India
- As people closely following the fortunes of cricket/cricketers know, Vaibhav has not only made an immediate impact on the cricketing firmament but also has announced his arrival in such a magnificent manner with the bat doing all the talking. The breakthrough year must be the recently concluded 18th edition of the IPL, where Vaibhav emerged as the Most Valuable Player, won the Orange Cap, and was crowned the Emerging Player as well. Three glittering awards. Vaibhav was the highest scorer in terms of runs and hit 72 maximums. These exploits were enough for the voices gaining strength from across the country for inclusion in the senior Indian team despite his relatively young age for the hurly-burly of international cricket.
PC: Outlook India
- The national selectors had to oblige the growing demands by including the youngster for the tours of Ireland and England to play in the T20Is. The selectors and the team management didn’t draft him into the playing eleven straightaway against Ireland since the top three batters viz. Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan played crucial roles in Team India winning the T20 World Cup. No way the team management would have dropped the top three to simply accommodate Vaibhav, you see. Unfortunately, as has been happening over the last few years, Sanju Samson’s inconsistency often comes to the fore at critical junctures. Sanju’s failings in the two Ireland T20Is and in the first T20I against England prompted the selectors to drop him again.
PC: The Times of India
- The moot point to ponder over here is why the selectors must drop Sanju to accommodate Vaibhav at all. Mind you, Sanju was crowned as the Player of the Series for his scintillating performances leading to Team India winning the much-coveted World Cup. Three low scores have resulted in Sanju getting dropped from the playing eleven yet again. Is it fair to treat the most talented and stylish batter in this manner? Indisputably, Vaibhav deserves to be in the team on the back of the sheer weight of performances of late. But what wrong has Sanju Samson done to merit a drop? Both the batters could have been accommodated, with Sanju coming down the order to bat at No. 3. Hopefully, Sanju will be drafted back into the playing eleven soon.
