Vaibhav Sooryavanshi phenomenon has crossed borders, with excitement around the 15-year-old prodigy peaking in Ireland ahead of his possible India debut in the upcoming T20I series against Ireland.Sooryavanshi, who has captured the imagination of cricket fans with his sensational exploits in the IPL, is all set to make his senior debut for India during the two-match series starting in Belfast on June 26. According to former India and Ireland cricketer MV Narasimha Rao, the buzz surrounding the teenager has already sparked a rush for tickets, with fans from across Europe eager to witness the moment in person.“I think they (local organisers) will have to put in more seats because this stadium (Stormont Ground) only has 7,000 seats or so. People from other parts of Europe like Paris etc already want to come, hopefully we can find a way to accommodate them,” Rao told PTI from Strabane, Ireland.The former all-rounder believes that Sooryavanshi’s debut, if it happens, could become a momentous occasion for Irish cricket fans.“So I think it will be history, a big day if he makes his debut in Ireland. It was unexpected and in the last 10 days, there’s really been a lot of excitement here,” he added.
‘He’s phenomenal’: Rao compares the young man’s style to that of Sober
Rao, who played four Tests for India before later representing Ireland in the mid-1990s, feels the conditions in Belfast could suit the young left-hander.“He’s phenomenal, great to watch and I watched him on TV during the IPL. He might enjoy batting because the wickets here are generally slow and Ireland don’t have the same kind of fast bowlers, you know, with pace,” he said.However, Rao expects tighter scrutiny when India travel to England.“But once he goes to England, it will be a big test for him because the ball moves there and the weather also changes even in the short duration of T20. But I wish him a good series,” he warned.The veteran coach also drew comparisons between Sooryavanshi’s batting style and legendary West Indian great Gary Sobers.“He reminds me – from the few matches I’ve watched of Gary Sobers – high backswing and bat, comes straight, and he picks the ball up very quickly. He’s so versatile and can play every shot in the game at this young age,” he added.Despite the growing buzz, Rao urged the teenager to stay grounded.“He has a God-given talent. But my word is that – like Sachin Tendulkar — you should keep your head down and your feet on the ground. “It will be a big test for him because he is a superstar now,” he said.
