Former India opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth has heaped praise on 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, predicting that the teenager has the potential to become one of the biggest names in world cricket. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth said the youngster's performances have generated an unusual level of public interest in the Duleep Trophy, India's premier domestic first-class competition, noting that everyone watched the tournament because of him and that even his wife is watching because of him, adding that Sooryavanshi will be a big asset going forward for world cricket. 

Sooryavanshi's recent form has been a study in contrasts. Playing for East Zone, he failed to make an impact with the bat in the quarterfinal victory over North East Zone before responding with a strong comeback in the semifinal against Central Zone. He managed just 8 runs in the quarter-final before scoring 92 and 40 in the semi-final, with his 92 coming off just 81 balls in the first innings, followed by a crucial 40 in the final innings that helped East Zone secure a four-wicket win and advance to the final. 

The teenager has already carved out a place in the record books during this tournament. At the age of 15 years and 157 days, he became the youngest batter to score a half-century in the history of the Duleep Trophy, breaking a 57-year-old record previously held by Laxman Singh, who had scored a fifty in the competition at the age of 16 years and 23 days back in 1969. Srikkanth was effusive about the manner in which Sooryavanshi has been dismantling bowling attacks, noting that he has been smashing medium pacers for straight sixes without hesitation in red-ball cricket, and toying with the bowlers' line and length. 

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Sooryavanshi's rise has been rapid, taking him from age-group cricket to the Indian Premier League and international cricket in a short span, and his continued success in the longer format of the game has only added to the excitement surrounding his career. Srikkanth argued that the youngster's ability spans all formats and cautioned that he should be nurtured carefully rather than criticized, saying he must be encouraged and never discouraged, and that if he is moulded properly, he will become a superstar in the making who could help bring Test cricket back to its former glory. 

Looking ahead, Sooryavanshi is set to feature in the Duleep Trophy final against Central Zone starting September 6 in Chennai, though his participation reportedly depends on a decision by India head coach Gautam Gambhir, since the batter has also been selected for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. Should national team duty take precedence, there remains a possibility that the youngster could miss the domestic final, underlining the balancing act now facing selectors as they manage his workload across formats. 

With senior former players like Srikkanth publicly backing his potential and cricket boards keeping a close watch on his development, Sooryavanshi appears set to remain one of the most closely followed young talents in Indian cricket, as fans and former players alike continue to take notice of a player who, according to Srikkanth, is already drawing in audiences who might not otherwise have tuned in to the sport.

Also Read: Teenager Sooryavanshi's Brilliance Ends East Zone's Long Duleep Trophy Wait