Right since the India vs Ireland series, there were calls to include teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the playing XI; and then when he was finally given a chance in the England T20Is, he was not just up to the mark. In three matches he has only scored 42 runs at an average of 14 and an SR of 168. But then former India opener WV Raman has cautioned the management and the fans, that the 15-year-old should not be judged on numbers. He should be given a time frame of 15-20 matches to be judged.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will come good eventually
“Don’t judge him by the numbers. If the selectors have picked him, it means they believe in his talent, and there is no doubt about his ability,” Raman told RevSportz. “Naturally, opposition bowlers will study him closely because that’s how international cricket works. My suggestion is simple—let him play 15 to 20 games without worrying about the statistics. I’m confident he will perform exceptionally well once he gains confidence through regular opportunities.”
The encouraging part
Despite the failure at the international arena, Raman went on to laud Sooryavanshi, since he has not looked to change his game. The former player added, that will time, the newbie will learn to adjust. “The encouraging part is that he hasn’t tried to become a different player. Sometimes, youngsters feel they must change their game once they reach international cricket, but he hasn’t done that. He has stayed within his natural framework, and over time, he will understand what adjustments are required to succeed at this level.”
The next series that Sooryavanshi plays is the Zimbabwe T20Is. That will once again give him the necessary exposure against and up and coming attack, perhaps not as strong as England, and where he could really make a mark for himself.
