Young opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been a revelation. The 14-year-old has been belting bowlers for humongous sixes easily making cricketing greats scratching their heads in awe. Ahead of ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 clash against Oman, the opposition players are baffled too, especially after his 42-ball 144 against UAE. They wonder how can someone as young as him and can hit the ball a long way.
“We’ve only seen Vaibhav Suryavanshi on TV, and now we’ll be playing against him. When you’re 14 and you’re able to hit the ball that far, that’s just exceptional talent. It’s something not everybody can do — definitely something I couldn’t do at that age. 14 saal ke ho, kaise maarte ho ye chakke? [At 14, how are you smashing those sixes?] He’s really talented and very good, so I’m really looking forward to playing against him,” Oman’s 20-year-old batter Aryan Bisht told TOI.
Bisht scored a run-a-ball 30 in Oman's successful run chase against UAE. India and Oman take on each other on November 18. The winner of the clash will advance to the semifinals which will be played on November 21.
Suryavanshi on top
Meanwhile, Suryavanshi is the top run-scorer of the tournament. From two innings, he has scored 189 runs at an average of 94.50 and strike rate of 270. After a blitzkrieg ton against UAE, he fell short of a half-century against Pakistan A.
Samay wants to meet ‘extraordinary’ Suryavanshi
Aryan's teammate, Samay Shrivastava is looking forward to meet Suryavanshi and talk to him about hitting big sixes.
“It’s a great opportunity to meet him. I just want to know his mindset about cricket. He’s only 14 and he’s already doing so well for his cricket and for India. I definitely want to meet him — the way he hits those big sixes is extraordinary. I really want to meet him and talk to him,” Samay said.
34-year-old leg-spinner Shrivastava is yet to take a wicket in the tournament. He was economical against Pakistan A, conceding 26 runs from his quota of four overs. Against UAE, he went for 35 runs.