IPL fans were waiting with bated breath to watch the spicy contest between 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Jasprit Bumrah on Tuesday evening, but the rain delayed the much-anticipated battle. When the clouds finally subsided and the Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians match finally got underway, Sooryavanshi went for the kill. After Yashasvi Jaiswal hammered Deepak Chahar for 22 runs in the opening over of the first innings, came the moment everyone had waited for in the rain-reduced game.
How Sooryavanshi dealt with the best bowler in the business, Bumrah, became the most eye-catching moment of the encounter played at Barabati Stadium. For some, watching the 15-year-old Indian prodigy fearlessly taking on the modern great Bumrah with so much ease brought the memories of a young Sachin Tendulkar facing the Pakistan spin legend Abdul Qadir in 1989.
Sooryavanshi Vs Bumrah
Showing no mercy or respect to the world’s best bowler, Sooryavanshi, facing his first delivery of the night in the second over, smashed Bumrah for a towering maximum over wide long-on.
Back on strike after a couple of deliveries, the teenage sensation deposited Bumrah’s slower bouncer for another half a dozen. The MI pacer ended up conceding 14 runs in his opening over, 12 of which came from Sooryavanshi’s bat.
The sheer audacity shown by the young cricketer sent the Internet into a frenzy. As for Bumrah, he could only afford a wry smile.
Jaiswal remained unbeaten on 77 off 32 balls, while Sooryavanshi’s perfect cameo of 39 from only 14 balls helped Rajasthan Royals post an intimidating total of 150/3 in just 11 overs. That target proved out of reach for the Mumbai camp, who were restricted to 123 for 9, losing the contest by 27 runs.
Why Sooryavanshi’s Fireworks Reminded Cricket Fans Of Sachin Tendulkar vs Abdul Qadir
Long before the T20 format became a cricket mainstay, arch-rivals India and Pakistan were locked in a rain-reduced international match that was eventually trimmed to a T20 contest.
The year was 1989 when a 16-year-old Tendulkar walked out in the middle, taking one of the greatest spinners of all time, Abdul Qadir. Although Pakistan went on to win the match, it was Tendulkar’s heroic batting that made the world pause and take note of what had just unfolded on the cricket field. Tendulkar had finally arrived on the international scene, and he did so by sending Qadir for four maximums in a single over.
6, 0, 4, 6, 6, 6 – Qadir’s over read as Tendulkar just whacked him for 28 runs. Tendulkar walked back to the hut, remaining unbeaten for 53 runs (18 balls). His memorable inning saw 6 maximums and 2 boundaries.
“Try And Hit Me”
Speaking to Aakash Chopra, Tendulkar recalled what it was like to face Qadir at such a young age.
“The match was in Gujranwala, I think. It had rained and both teams were informed that many spectators have come to see so why don’t we have a 20-over exhibition match? (sic)”
Not counted as an international fixture, both teams decided to provide entertainment to the crowd, not willing to send them empty-handed.
“I was batting at number four and I remember when I had gone out to bat, we had to score some 65-70 runs in four overs,” a former Indian batting legend recalled.
Krishnamachari Srikkanth was the captain of the Indian side at that time, and the cricket great said that he came on the field with the mindset to chase the total runs.
“Mushtaq [Ahmed] was bowling, he got hit for two sixes and a four. Abdul Qadir came to me and said, ‘I’ll bowl from this side. Try and hit me’. I said you’re such a senior bowler, I can’t hit you that easily,” said Tendulkar.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Showered With Praise
Watching Sooryavanshi batting effortlessly was a delight for viewers who had hoped for a cracking contest. And they got what they had asked for.
“Vaibhav sooryavanshi is truly a once in a generation talent mann leave 15 years old I’ve never seen even a 30 years old guy batting this easily (sic),” an X user remarked.
“Vaibhav Sooryavanshi faced GOAT Jasprit Bumrah for the first time. And casually smashed two sixes in a single over. What a talent (sic),” remarked another.
Source:- News18
