AB de Villiers has issued a measured but cautionary message on the rapid rise of Rajasthan Royals Youngster Vibhu Suryavanshi, suggests that while the 15-year-old’s white-ball explosiveness is exceptional, his long-term development will depend on how he adapts to the demands of multi-format cricket.Speaking on the ‘For the Love of Cricket’ podcast hosted by former England fast bowler Stuart Broad, the former South African star highlighted the youngster’s potential and the challenges he faces if he moves beyond T20 cricket too soon.
Suryavanshi has taken the IPL by storm this season, scoring 440 runs in 11 innings at an average of 40.00 and a strike rate of 236.55. His impact has been illustrated by a century and two half-centuries, striking fearlessly against an elite bowling attack. Jaspreet Bumrah, Josh Hazlewood And Bhuvneshwar Kumar Attracting massive attention and even calling for an India T20I promotion.However, de Villiers urged caution, pointing out that the youngster’s Red Ball Foundation is still in its infancy. In first-class cricket, Suryavanshi has scored 207 runs in eight matches and 12 innings with a half-century at an average of 17.25.“I don’t know how he will go, to be honest. At his age, the talent is unbelievable. But I would like to see him in other formats. In Test cricket, he still doesn’t know what he is for. A lot will change unless someone, who is a really good manager, asks him to be a T20 specialist. If he is successful throughout his life, he will be very successful.” career,” he said.De Villiers believes the exposure to ODI and Test cricket in particular will help the youngster unlock new layers of his game, mentally and physically, even if the journey is not straightforward.“If he starts moving around with ODIs and Test cricket in particular, he will explore a whole different side of his cricket mentally and physically. He definitely has the ability to overcome all obstacles that may come his way. But it won’t be an easy ride, and it will be a rocky road. I hope he continues on that path and tries to play Test cricket for his country.”Adolescent numbers at the junior and franchise level indicate why he is being viewed as the batting talent of the generation. In the recent U-19 World Cup, Suryavanshi finished as the second-highest run-scorer in seven matches with 439 runs at an average of 62.71 and a strike rate of 169.49, including a century and three half-centuries, with a top score of 175. He also hit 30 sixes in the tournament, breaking Dewald Breus’ previous record of 18 sixes in the 2022 edition, the most in U19 World Cup history.
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In his Under-19 ODI career, he has scored 1,412 runs in 25 innings at an average of 56.48, with a strike rate of over 165, including four centuries and seven half-centuries, with a best of 175.Overall in T20 cricket, the 15-year-old has scored 1,105 runs in 28 matches at an average of 40.92 and a staggering strike rate of 215.39, including four centuries and three half-centuries, his top score being 144. In List A cricket, he has 353 runs in eight innings at an average of 44.12, with a century and a fifty at 164.95, and a best of 190.As the debate rages over whether Suryavanshi should be included in India’s T20I set-up sooner, de Villiers’ message is clear: the talent is undeniable, but the real test will come when he steps into the longer and more demanding formats of the game.
