Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has lavished praise on Vaibhav Suryavanshi after RR registered a 27-run win against MI at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati on Tuesday. Suryavanshi smashed MI’s ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah for a first-ball six and took MI bowlers to the cleaners in the rain-curtailed game.
The 15-year-old scored a blistering knock of 39 runs off just 14 balls with the help of one four and five sixes. The youngster scored his runs at a whirlwind strike rate of 278.57. Suryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal added 80 runs off just 30 balls for the opening alliance and played a key role in helping RR post 150 runs on the board in 11 overs.
The Turbanator hailed Suryavanshi for not showing any fear against a world-class bowler like Bumrah.
“A 15-year-old was against the World’s No.1 bowler Jasprit Bumrah. And the very first ball, a small kid, hits him for a six off the very first ball. The best of the best sweat against Bumrah, but this kid has shown that he plays the ball and not the bowler. Bumrah is known to come back. He bowled a slower one. But that also, he picked it nicely and put it away for a six over mid-wicket. This guy has shown that, despite being 15, he is prepared and is here to rule. He will rule,” Harbhajan Singh said on his YouTube channel.
The former off-spinner hailed Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi for their blistering opening alliance.
“Does anyone play like this at 15? People start getting big at this age, but this guy is already in the class of the big. Mumbai had three solid bowlers, and all three were taken to the attack at the start itself. That is where Jaiswal and Suryavanshi broke MI’s confidence,” he added.
Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 77 runs off just 32 balls with the help of 10 fours and four sixes and the former Punjab spinner was all praise for the left-hander.
“Jaiswal was unbelievable. He batted the way right from the first ball till the end. This year, he is batting like a senior batter. I am very happy to see our youngsters taking responsibility. There is no lack of capability. From the background he came from, and where he is today, it shows that hard work is the only solution. He has gone through a time when he had nothing. Today, he has everything, but he has maintained cricket as his priority,” he said.
Rajasthan Royals will next take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, on Friday.
