TimesofIndia.com in Dharamsala: MS Dhoni played hide and seek with the fans this year. Indian Premier League (IPL). He did not play a single game. Virat Kohli once again stamped his class. Rohit Sharma struggled with his fitness throughout the season and looked like a pale shadow of his former self.As the sun begins to set on the career of one of IPL’s biggest crowd-pullers, 15-year-old Vibhu Suryavanshi from the backwaters of Bihar has taken up the baton. Suryavanshi has not only lit up the season with his jaw-dropping stroke play but is also emerging as the man to bring the fans to the stadium. Former India spinner R Ashwin said on his YouTube channel that he sees. Rajasthan Royals Gets along with his parents, a story that mirrors every Indian family these days. They are glued to the screen every time the youngster steps out to bat.IPL chairman Arun Dhumal is also a fan of the teenage sensation.“Vaibhu embodies the IPL tagline which is, ‘Where talent meets opportunity.’ Is that boy something else?” says Dhumal in a freewheeling chat with TimesofIndia.com.“The talent was always there, but how did they get the opportunity? That opportunity, that platform, has been given by the IPL.”
I think it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for any scouting or selection team to pick up such an amazing talent. Salute to the man who saw it
Arun Dhumal on Vaibhu Suryavanshi
Suryavanshi has scored 583 runs at a strike rate of 232.27 in 14 matches in this IPL season. He has hit more sixes (53) than fours (50).Dhumal credits Rajasthan Royals’ scouting team for spotting such a gem.“I think it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for any scouting or selection team to get such an amazing talent at such a young age. Hats off to the guy for sure,” he says.“And the way the boy has matured and performed at such a young age is phenomenal. Not only in IPL, if you look at the U-19 World Cup final, he scored 175 runs in 80 balls and the team reached 411 runs. This is unheard of in U-19 cricket, that too in a World Cup final.“It’s great for Indian cricket. And that’s the beauty of the IPL. It’s been transformative for a lot of young talent over the last 18-19 years. It’s changed their lives,” he adds.
File photo of Rajasthan Royals batsman Vibhu Suryavanshi.
Dhumal admitted that Suryavanshi’s rise will put an extra onus on the BCCI and Rajasthan Royals to handle him, especially when they are going through a tough phase.“Like any great player, he will go through ups and downs. That’s the nature of the game, he’ll fail, he’ll go down. But that’s what sports trains you, you get up and do better in the next game. It’s very important to prepare you for life. Life is never going to be a one-way street where you just get up.“I’m sure the boy, given his performance this season and as part of the Under-19 team, will have seen a lot of setbacks. But in the next game, he would try to do even better and help his team win,” says Dhumal. The veteran organizer added that the youngster will need a lot of support to maintain the right mental space for the challenges that come his way.“I think the BCCI and the franchise will need to hold him in terms of showing him the right path so that he keeps his spirit. Because the game is not just about physical skills, it is also about mental toughness.
What is the most thrilling aspect of Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s performance?
“And certainly, we will do our best to ensure that the kind of skill set he has built allows him to perform for India for many years to come,” adds Dhumal.
