Ahmedabad: While Sunday belonged to Virat Kohli and the Rajat Patidar-led Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), boy wonder Vaibhav Sooryavanshi went home rich. And one is not talking solely about prize money and awards here.
The 15-year-old Sooryavanshi, the highest highest run-getter of the tournament (776) sported a new haircut and sat in the same box as ICC chairman Jay Shah, former India captain Sourav Ganguly, and BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla.
His crowning moment arrived after the match when Kohli put an arm around his shoulder and the two spoke to each other for a good couple of minutes.
While no one really knows what the conversation was all about, Sooryavanshi certainly went back home a whole lot richer compared to just a few awards. Kohli’s gesture came less than 24 hours after the legendary Sachin Tendulkar endorsed Sooryavanshi for Test cricket. He had earlier praised his batting technique too.
Kohli had earlier given Sooryavanshi an autograph and signed his cap after the left-handed batter smashed the RCB bowlers all around the park at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati.
On Sunday, the youngster won five awards – Most Valuable Player, Orange Cap, Emerging Player of the Season, Super Striker, and Super Sixes of the Season.
He hit 72 sixes in the 19th edition of the T20 tournament, breaking Chris Gayle’s record of most maximums in a single edition of the IPL. He also became the fastest Indian to score more than 1,000 runs in the tournament. Moreover, he surpassed Rishabh Pant to become the youngest to reach the 1,000-run mark in the tournament, as reported by Hindustan Times.
While speaking to Sunil Gavaskar, Sooryavanshi said that he has already started preparing for red ball cricket.
In a chat with Ravi Shastri, Sooryavanshi admitted that he would need to work on his fitness going forward if he is to have a long career.
“If I have to stay injury-free, I have to work on my fitness. Everyone is very supportive. All senior players, support staff, everyone backs me, and it’s a good atmosphere,” he said.
The teenager will next be seen in action in the upcoming tri-series in Sri Lanka. He is part of the India A squad for the matches against Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A.
