Ashwin Recounts Being Astonished by 14-year-Old Vaibhav‘s Power Hitting
Ravichandran Ashwin, the seasoned Indian off-spinner, recently shared a fascinating anecdote about a young, emerging talent named Vaibhav. During a league stage match against Chennai super Kings, Vaibhav showcased his remarkable hitting prowess, scoring a match-winning 57 off just 33 deliveries, punctuated by four boundaries and an equal number of sixes.Ashwin’s story, however, goes beyond the scoreboard numbers.
He was engaged in conversation with Rajasthan Royals’ lead analyst, Panish shetty, following a match against Chennai. Ashwin explained that vaibhav’s impact wasn’t solely about his ability to clear the boundary.He revealed a specific exchange during a bowling spell that highlighted the youngster’s extraordinary skill.
Ashwin bowled one delivery round the stumps, and Vaibhav confidently dispatched it through the covers. Afterward, Ashwin attempted a slower ball, aiming to test the young batter’s approach. He noted that Samson, having kept wickets for him for a considerable time, understands his tactic of using slower deliveries to gauge whether a batter will attempt a big shot.
He deliberately pulled the ball slightly wide, but Vaibhav simply waited for the right moment and connected with a solid shot, sending it through mid-on for a single. Ashwin admitted to being genuinely surprised, wondering where this talent had come from.
“I remember thinking, ‘what the hell, man… Where has this guy come from?'” Ashwin recounted. He then put Vaibhav’s age into outlook, noting that the young player was only 14 years old when this happened. Ashwin made his IPL debut 18 years ago, emphasizing the generational gap.
He humorously pointed out that Vaibhav wasn’t even a thought in his parents’ minds when Ashwin began his professional career. The impact was so significant that even established players like Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer were discussing it.Ashwin overheard Buttler and Archer talking about the experience of facing a 14-year-old in the nets, acknowledging the challenge posed by Vaibhav’s power hitting even in practice sessions.
This story underscores the emergence of exciting young talent in Indian cricket and provides a glimpse into the awe and respect even seasoned professionals have for the next generation of players.It’s a testament to vaibhav’s potential and a reminder that the future of the game is in capable hands.
(Note: The “Editor’s Pick” and “Top Stories” sections were omitted as they are not part of the core narrative and would detract from the focus on the Ashwin anecdote.The goal was to deliver a standalone,authoritative article based on the provided text.)
Related reading