Teenage batting prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi delivered a thunderous reminder of his rare talent by smashing a breathtaking 190 off just 84 balls for Bihar in their opening match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy against Arunachal Pradesh. The innings came days after a rare off-day in the U19 Asia Cup final and has once again ignited debate over whether the youngster is ready to be fast-tracked into the Indian senior team.
Suryavanshi’s assault powered Bihar to an astonishing 574 for 6, the highest team total ever recorded in the history of the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The knock left fans, pundits, and fellow professionals stunned, with many hailing it as one of the most extraordinary domestic performances by a teenager in Indian cricket.
Among those impressed was Shashi Tharoor, a long-time follower of the sport. Drawing a bold parallel, Tharoor suggested that Indian cricket may be witnessing something truly special. Recalling Sachin Tendulkar’s international debut at just 16, Tharoor wrote on X that the last time a 14-year-old showed such prodigious talent, it was Tendulkar, and questioned what selectors were waiting for.
The innings also served as a sharp response to critics who had questioned Suryavanshi’s temperament after his failure in the U19 Asia Cup final against Pakistan. Instead of being weighed down by that disappointment, the teenager showcased remarkable maturity, timing and power, dominating a senior domestic attack with ease and reinforcing the belief that he is playing well beyond his age group.
Former India opener Aakash Chopra echoed similar sentiments, calling Suryavanshi’s run nothing short of extraordinary. Chopra noted that if the young batter can reproduce this form in the Indian Premier League, an India call-up could become impossible to ignore.
Retained by Rajasthan Royals, Suryavanshi now faces a crucial phase of his career. With expectations soaring ahead of the next IPL season, the spotlight will be firmly on whether he can continue to dazzle on the biggest stages or encounter the inevitable learning curve that tests even the brightest talents.
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