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Suryavanshi's Emergence Crazier Than Sachin's Breakout Back In The Day: Hussain
Follow UsHussain drew parallels to Sachin Tendulkar’s emergence back in the day, and claimed that Suryavanshi’s breakout is even crazier than the Little Master’s emergence
Less than six months back, Rajasthan Royals (RR) were mocked for spending more than a crore on 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, with many claiming that the franchise were out of their mind for ‘wasting’ money on a teenager that had no chance of playing in the IPL.
However, earlier this week in Jaipur, Suryavanshi, 14 now, brought the entire world to a standstill by smashing a stunning ton off just 35 balls against Gujarat Titans, the fastest by an Indian in IPL history. By doing so, Suryavanshi also became not just the youngest centurion in IPL history, but in the history of the T20 format.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain drew parallels to Sachin Tendulkar’s emergence back in the day, and claimed that Suryavanshi’s breakout is even crazier than the Little Master’s emergence four decades earlier.
“It was absolutely unbelievable. I mean, things like this do happen in India—and, you know, you go back to when I was growing up and watching the great Sachin Tendulkar emerge on the scene. But this even surpasses that,” Hussain said on the Sky Sports Podcast.
“I mean, it is unbelievable for a 14-year-old. And that’s what everyone started to think: What was I doing when I was 14? I was sort of plinking it around for Essex under-15s, trying to score some runs.
“And he’s out there scoring a hundred against some of the best bowlers in the world—in 35 deliveries— looking as if that’s exactly what he’s meant to be doing.”
The former England captain asserted that Suryavanshi’s hundred, at a deeper level, spoke about the absolutely ludicrous strength in depth at the domestic level in India. Hussain also talked about Suryavanshi’s breakthrough, embodying the effect IPL has had in the country, with superstars emerging from non-powerhouse states such as Bihar.
“It’s also a story of India and Indian cricket—the strength in depth. He’s yet another young domestic player who’s got a hundred. I think he’s the fourth. And all four hundreds have come from domestic players,” Hussain said.
“But it also shows how the IPL is growing into parts of India that historically haven’t produced great cricketers. I think he’s from the state of Bihar, which borders Nepal, and that region hasn’t really produced many great Indian or international cricketers.
“He looks like he’s got a big future ahead of him.”