AS SURYAVANSHI CUTS A SLICE OF HISTORY FOR HIMSELF, FANS LOOK TO THE FUTURE

IPL | Say what you want about modern bats, short- er boundaries, fielding and bowling restrictions and good wickets in T20, but for a 14-year-old to hit 11 sixes in a 35-ball century against a top bowling attack is astounding

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For half a century, Samastipur in Bihar was best known for the bomb blast that killed India’s then Railway minister. Now a 14-year-old, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, is likely to replace that image. If all goes well, Samastipur will be better known as the birthplace of one of the most remarkable batters to burst into the national consciousness as a teenager.

There is something about six-hitting that immediately focusses attention on a player, guarantees an eager following and fills stadiums. C K Nayudu’s 11 sixes against the MCC hastened India’s Test debut; in the 1970s, a 19-year-old Dilip Vengsarkar hit seven sixes off Bishan Bedi and Erapalli Prasanna in the Irani Trophy to announce his arrival, and on his first tour, Sachin Tendulkar hit Abdul Qadir for four sixes in an over and never looked back.

Say what you want about modern bats, shorter boundaries, fielding and bowling restrictions and good wickets in T20, but for a 14-year-old to hit 11 sixes in a 35-ball century against a top bowling attack is astounding. He mis-hit a couple, which is the modern way, but he also deposited a couple on the roof of the stadium. He has the quality the best have balance. It enabled him to drive fast bowler Prasidh Krishna over long off in the shot of the day, perhaps of the tournament.