Rajasthan Royals (RR) Vaibhav Sooryavanshi waited for more than 10 days to exact revenge on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) pacer Praful Hinge after the latter dismissed him for a golden duck on Indian Premier League (IPL) debut. It was not just the golden duck that hurt the 15-year-old. It was Hinge’s comments that ignited a fire in him. The SRH pacer had said that he has gotten Sooryavanshi out in an Under-23 game before and he would do it again. He succeeding in doing so but the young RR opener ensured that he doesn’t make the same mistake in the rematch. He let the bat do the talking and hit him for four sixes. After the 37-ball 103, the southpaw revealed that he saw a lot of comments on social media which had an impact on him.
“I went with a clear plan against the bowler. After getting out in the last match, I went back and checked my phone. I saw a lot of things. I usually don’t pay attention to those things, but when someone says something to me personally, it affects me a bit," said Sooryavanshi in a conversation with RR's team manager Romi Bhinder.
Sooryavanshi had a Sachin Tendulkar moment. England pacer Andrew Caddick had put Tendulkar in the category of 'any other Indian batter'. The statement didn't go down well with Caddick as Tendulkar around the park, including a six that went out of the stadium in Durban. Engalnd ended up losing the match as well.
Here's what Hinge had said about Sooryavanshi
"I had told people that I would bowl a bouncer to him and get him out. I just wanted to get him out. Varun bhai (our bowling coach) helped me plan it, so thank you," said Hinge.
Sooryavanshi gives update on injury
Sooryavanshi whacked 12 sixes and five fours in his 37-ball 103. During SRH’s run chase, he left the field clutching his hamstring. The teenager is confident of recovering before RR’s next game which is against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on April 28.
"It's fine now. I'm feeling better. I don't know, my foot got stuck. I already had an ankle problem, so to avoid putting too much force on it, I pulled my hamstring. But it's better now. I will recover in time for the next match," said Sooryavanshi in the same interaction.
Sooryavanshi in hunt for orange cap
Sooryavanshi is currently second in the orange cap race. He has scored 357 runs from eight innings at an average of 44.62 and strike rate of 234.86. In addition to the blazing ton, he has two fifties as well.