Suryavanshi’s 52-ball century draws comparisons with greats

Patna: At just 14, Vaibhav Suryavanshi is not just flirting with cricketing greatness but demanding a seat at the table. And on Saturday in Worcester, the boy wonder from Samastipur once again lit up the scoreboard and stunned seasoned watchers with a dazzling 52-ball century against England U-19. His eventual score? A jaw-dropping 143 off 73 deliveries, laced with 13 fours and 10 sixes, a knock that did not just win applause, but set off a fresh wave of awe across the cricketing fraternity.While social media buzzed and group chats overflowed with superlatives, cricket veterans back home tried to wrap their heads around the scale and style of this emerging sensation."It is Yuvraj Singh all over again. The same audacity, the same clean hitting," said Tarun Kumar, former India U-19 international who played in England back in 1994. "His aggression is his biggest strength. If anyone tries to tame that, they risk damaging his natural flair. He should protect it like gold," Kumar said.Vaibhav's journey so far has been a blur of blistering knocks and broken records. From a 38-ball century for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL against Gujarat Titans, the fastest ever by a 14-year-old, to a stunning 176 off 44 balls in the U-19 Asia Cup final, his bat seems to speak in sixes and centuries. He has also carved out a place in junior cricket history with a triple century – 332 runs – in the U-19 Randhir Verma tournament, a local championship, further underlining his staggering appetite for runs.Saturday's innings in England adds to a growing catalogue of dominance. And with each ferocious shot, the comparisons are growing louder.Sunil Kumar, former captain of Bihar's Ranji side, struck a more measured note. "Aggression at this age is electric, but it must evolve. At the international level, bowlers are smarter, tighter and more punishing. He must learn the art of strike rotation. Singles are as important as boundaries. And fitness will be key if he is to grow into a complete cricketer, especially in fielding, where modern cricket demands a lot," he said."There is something about him that reminds me of Sachin Tendulkar," said Ram Kumar, former Ranji player and early coach of Tejashwi Prasad Yadav. "The main difference is patience. Sachin had the discipline to bat for long hours. Vaibhav's challenge will be to blend his natural aggression with endurance. Especially if he plays Tests in the future, he will need the temperament to stay at the crease," he added.