Former India leg spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has made a strong case for 15 year old opening batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi, saying the teenager should be given continuous chances in limited overs cricket instead of being rested, so he can gain experience across different conditions and learn from his own mistakes.
A Blistering Cameo On Debut
Suryavanshi made his debut for India in the second T20 International against England in Manchester. At just 15 years and 99 days old, he became the youngest player ever to debut for India. In that very first international outing, he smashed 14 runs off 10 balls, including two sixes, giving a glimpse of his aggressive batting style.
Sivaramakrishnan himself knows what it means to break into international cricket at a young age. He made his Test debut against West Indies in 1983 at the age of 17. That personal experience, he believes, gives him a clearer understanding of what a player like Suryavanshi needs at this stage of his career.
"He Needs Chances, Not Rest"
Sivaramakrishnan said that once the team management has shown faith in Suryavanshi by picking him, he must also be given adequate opportunities to play. "He should get continuous chances in limited overs cricket. There is no point bringing a young player into the side and then resting him. He does not need rest right now, he should be playing through the year," he said.
He added that as a batter, Suryavanshi will not need the kind of fitness management that fast bowlers require. Batting for long periods will only sharpen his concentration and build his mental toughness further. That, in his view, is exactly why the youngster should be included in series after series rather than being dropped in and out of the side.
Backing From Gambhir, Iyer And Teammates
According to Sivaramakrishnan, once the team has decided to play Suryavanshi, it must commit to giving him a full run. He described the teenager as an investment for Indian cricket for the next 20 years. Right now, he said, Suryavanshi needs the support of head coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Shreyas Iyer and the rest of his teammates more than anything else.
He stressed that even if Suryavanshi's performances in the first few matches fall short of expectations, he should still be backed fully and handed consistent opportunities. The team management, he said, needs to be patient, since any young player needs time and trust to prove himself at the highest level.
No Need To Change His Natural Game
Sivaramakrishnan believes Suryavanshi is a naturally aggressive stroke player, which means occasional mistakes are only to be expected. "I want him to be guided the right way and given full support. He is a stroke player who will take risks many times, but modern cricket is a game built on taking risks. So he should not be asked to change his natural batting style or his approach," he said.
At the same time, he pointed out that Suryavanshi will need to start reading the strategies bowlers are building against him. Referring to the example of Suryavanshi playing a big shot against a spinner in haste during the Manchester T20I, Sivaramakrishnan said that along with experience, the youngster will also have to learn the art of making situational decisions. "Now that he is getting the experience of playing at such a big level, he also needs to start thinking about what strategy the bowler in front of him is going to use against him," he said.
A Future Contender For The ODI World Cup
Sivaramakrishnan feels a talent as exceptional as Suryavanshi should not be limited to T20 cricket alone and should also be given opportunities in one day internationals. He believes Suryavanshi could emerge as a potential top order batter for next year's 50 over World Cup. In other words, if the team management acts on this suggestion, Suryavanshi could find his way into India's ODI setup in the coming months as well.
