Vaibhav Sooryavanshi once again showed why he is regarded as one of Indian cricket’s most exciting young talents, taking on experienced pacer Mohammed Siraj during the opening day of the Duleep Trophy final at the Chepauk Stadium on Sunday.
The 15-year-old batter attracted plenty of attention even before play began, with a sizeable crowd gathering at the venue. The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association had opened the C, D and E lower stands for free, ensuring a strong turnout for a final featuring several established names. But the biggest crowd puller was undoubtedly Sooryavanshi.
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Chepauk holds special memories for the teenager. Two years ago, he made his India Under-19 debut at the same venue and marked the occasion with a century against Australia. That match was played behind closed doors and was not televised. This time, however, Sooryavanshi returned to a packed stadium and left a lasting impression on the spectators.
The youngster’s most talked-about contest of the day came against Siraj. The experienced India pacer was expected to test Sooryavanshi with the new ball, but the opening battle went firmly in the teenager’s favour.
Siraj struggled for rhythm and control during his first spell, conceding 41 runs without taking a wicket in five overs. His deliveries frequently strayed on either side of the batter, allowing Sooryavanshi to attack.
In the seventh over, Siraj finally pitched the ball up, but Sooryavanshi was ready. The left-hander extended his forearm and sent the delivery sailing over mid-off for a six before following it up with two boundaries. The sequence underlined the confidence with which the teenager approached one of India’s established fast bowlers.
Siraj did manage to ask questions early in his spell, but he appeared short of his best. Known for operating in the high-130s and early-140s kmph, he was mostly bowling in the high-130s during his opening spell.
His tactics also appeared unusually defensive. Five fielders were stationed in the deep while Sooryavanshi was batting, reducing the attacking options available to the pacer. Siraj’s traditional strength is challenging left-handers with a delivery angled across them and moving away, but that method was not consistently visible on Sunday.
Sooryavanshi eventually fell for 44 off 37 balls, ending an entertaining stay at the crease. While the teenager missed the opportunity to convert his start into a maiden first-class century, his aggressive approach against a seasoned international bowler was another indication of his growing confidence.
For Siraj, however, the outing highlighted the work still required to rediscover his best form. With chief selector Ajit Agarkar watching from the stands, the Duleep Trophy final represented an opportunity for the pacer to respond after an ordinary outing in Colombo.
Instead, it was Sooryavanshi who walked away with the early bragging rights as the ‘Boss Baby’ stole the spotlight at Chepauk.
