NEW DELHI: India’s teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has revealed how a timely chat with his coach helped him overcome a rough patch and bounce back to his devastating best in the Tri-series final against Sri Lanka A in Dambulla.The 15-year-old hit a blistering 94 off just 29 balls, including the fastest List A half-century in history off just 11 deliveries, as India A beat Sri Lanka A by 66 runs to lift the title.But the record knock came after a poor run in the tournament and increasing scrutiny of his form and temperament following an on-field altercation during India A’s previous encounter with Sri Lanka A.“When the runs were not coming, I sat with Hrishi [Hrishikesh Kanitkar] sir to discuss a few things and he gave me a free hand to play,” Sooryavanshi told Sportstar after the final.“These conditions were a little different, so it presented some challenges in the beginning. So, I tried too hard, but I couldn’t execute the plans. That’s when he told me, ‘tu apna natural game khel, zyada soch mat’ (you play your natural game and don’t think too much about anything else). That motivated me and I kept supporting myself and I’m happy that things turned out well,” said the teenager.
‘There was no pressure on me’
Going into the clash at the top, Sooryavanshi managed just 117 runs in four innings and struggled to convert starts on slower surfaces in Sri Lanka.However, the left-hander insisted that the pressure never crossed his mind despite the criticism surrounding him.“There was no pressure on me,” said Sooryavanshi. “When I came out to bat, the idea was to execute what I had planned in the first ten overs and then move on. It worked…”His stunning attack effectively settled the contest in the first ten overs. India A raced to 132 in just nine overs before eventually posting 377/9. Sri Lanka A were then bowled out for 311 in 47.1 overs.
Sri Lankan captain salutes Sooryavanshi
Sri Lanka Captain Sahan Arachchiga admitted that Sooryavanshi’s blitz immediately put the side on the back foot.“Sooryavanshi played a brilliant innings. We managed the innings nicely but let it go in the last two overs,” Arachchige said.“When we’re chasing a big result, the top order can go down cheaply. It happens. The young guys played well, the seniors also scored. It was a good tournament,” he added.With India’s T20 debut due later this month, Sooryavanshi’s latest masterclass served as another reminder that even during tough times, trusting his natural instincts remains his greatest strength.
