Kamal Ghorui
After Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed two sixes off Jasprit Bumrah, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan praised the 15-year-old prodigy, explaining how he forced the world’s best bowler to think. Sooryavanshi grabbed headlines when he took on Jasprit Bumrah, widely regarded as the world’s best bowler, he smashed him for two sixes in a single over. Facing Bumrah for the first time in the IPL, the young left-hander launched the very first ball he faced over long-on for a stunning six, a shot that even drew a smile from the Indian pace spearhead.
After rotating strike briefly with opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sooryavanshi once again took on Bumrah on the 4th ball of same over. Anticipating a slower delivery, he picked it early and launched it into the midwicket stands, marking two sixes. Sooryavanshi’s innings was short but electrifying. He scored a blistering 39 off just 14 balls before being dismissed by Shardul Thakur, caught in the deep.‘He was waiting for Bumrah’ – PathanSpeaking on his YouTube channel, Pathan revealed that Sooryavanshi had been preparing for this moment.“This 15-year-old wonder kid says, ‘I am waiting for Jasprit Bumrah. I got out to him last year. I will come this year and hit him.’ And he hit Bumrah on the very first ball,” Pathan said.Making the Best ThinkWhat impressed Pathan the most was not just the sixes, but the impact they had on Bumrah himself.”The way Bumrah had no plans visible, the way he moved to the slower one – Vaibhav Suryavanshi has forced even Bumrah to think. In white-ball cricket, India has not found a bowler like Bumrah. He is a GOAT. And this feat has been achieved against him,” he added.Pathan highlighted Bumrah’s stature in world cricket, calling him a once-in-a-generation bowler in white-ball formats, which made Sooryavanshi’s feat even more remarkable.According to Pathan, the youngster’s fearless mindset is what sets him apart.“Whatever bowler comes in front of him, he doesn’t overthink or focus on the action. He watches the ball and, if it’s there to be hit, he goes for it. That thinking makes him very special.” After his explosiveness in the IPL so far, Pathan also wants selectors to stop waiting and hand Vaibhav Sooryavanshi his India cap. “Don’t make this boy wait too long,” he said. “Give him the Indian team cap. Imagine, this boy can play 20 years of professional cricket. This is scary for bowlers.”
