Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's debut mystery continues but Sam Curran draws up plans to test 15-year-old in England

Ahead of the second T20I at Old Trafford this Saturday, England all-rounder Sam Curran acknowledged that teenage batting phenom Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is in the form of his career.

Sam Curran is aware of 'Vaibhav Sooryavanshi' threat

However, Curran made it clear that the hosts have already devised strategies to contain the 15-year-old, should he make his highly anticipated international debut. Anticipation around the youngster has reached a fever pitch following a sensational IPL run, and he could break into the playing XI on July 4 as India looks to shake things up after a rainy, no-result opener at Chester-le-Street.

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While praising the prodigy's fearless approach, Curran pointed out that English pitches will offer a vastly different trial by fire compared to the subcontinent. "The surfaces here are a lot slower than what he’s used to in India, which presents a completely unique test," Curran noted during his pre-match press conference. He admitted that while the English bowling unit has formulated their blueprints, the sheer unpredictability of Sooryavanshi's raw talent means nothing is guaranteed. "He’s just playing with complete freedom and having the time of his life, so we'll have to see if our plans hold up," Curran added.

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Drawing on his own extensive background in the IPL, Curran pointed out that the technical trial on the pitch might actually pale in comparison to the psychological test awaiting the 15-year-old. England all-rounder noted that the sheer magnitude of fame and scrutiny attached to playing for India is a unique beast. According to Curran, learning to navigate the immense hype and heavy expectations of a cricket-crazy nation will likely be the teenager's steepest learning curve.

Because of this, the English star advocated for patience, reminding everyone that the youngster is still at the absolute beginning of his journey with only a fraction of IPL experience under his belt. While acknowledging that the prodigy likely has a strong support system, Curran realistically noted that a player's true character is only revealed under the international pump, where peaks and valleys are inevitable.

No clarity on Sooryavanshi's India debut

For now, India’s management has played it safe by relying on their veteran top order, but Sanju Samson’s ongoing battle for consistency is making it increasingly difficult to ignore the growing clamor for Sooryavanshi’s inclusion ahead of the Manchester fixture.