ZIM vs IND: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s mystery celebration decoded after historic fifty
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has finally arrived on the big stage of international in sensational style. During the first T20I against Zimbabwe on Thursday, July 23, India’s teenage sensation etched his name into the record book, becoming the youngest batter ever to smash a T20 International fifty and going past the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
The 15-year-old showcased remarkable composure and aggression, bringing up his milestone in only 18 deliveries. His explosive knock featured four fours and four towering sixes, as he took apart the Zimbabwe bowling attack and helped India chase down the 126-run target with ease at the Harare Sports Club.
Sooryavanshi celebrated the moment with a special celebration that caught the attention of the fans. The opener seemed to signal an A with his hands right after reaching the landmark and then signalled to the dug out with a double thumbs up.
Now, the 15-year-old has ended the mystery, saying that the first celebration was for his father. The second one, Sooryavanshi said it was something he had discussed with Rinku Singh.
“I had done it for my mother, and this one was also related to something that Rinku bhaiya and I had spoken about,” said Sooryavanshi in a video interview with BCCI.
Sooryavanshi also dedicated his special knock to his family, coaches and friends, who stood by him during the ups and downs in his career.
I would like to dedicate this to my family and my coaches, and to everyone who has supported me throughout my journey, who stood by me during both the good and bad phases.
‘NOT TAKING ANYTHING FOR GRANTED’
The fifty for Sooryavanshi was a welcome relief for the youngster after an indifferent start to life in the senior team. The southpaw scored 42 runs from three matches before being dropped for the final game as India lost the series 0-4.
However, back in the familiar surroundings of Harare, Sooryavanshi appeared to be in the zone and back to his brilliant best.
Harare holds a special place in Sooryavanshi’s heart as he scored a brilliant century in the U-19 World Cup final to help India win the title. The youngster said he enjoys the vibe at the ground but isn’t ready to take anything for granted.
Sooryavanshi said he aims to remain consistent and help the team win games.
“You can say I like the vibe here. There are some grounds where you enjoy scoring runs, and maybe this is one of them.”
But I am not taking anything for granted. I am just trying to give my best wherever I play, contribute to the team, and keep performing well,” said Sooryavanshi.
India will face Zimbabwe in the second T20I on Saturday, July 25.
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