Vaibhav Sooryavanshi announced himself on the global stage two weeks ago with an innings that felt almost surreal for a 14-year-old.
The Indian prodigy smashed 175 off just 80 balls in the Under-19 Cricket World Cup final to help India defeat England.
The knock immediately captured attention beyond youth cricket and sparked debate about just how high his ceiling might be.
Former England captains Sir Alastair Cook and Michael Vaughan were among those left amazed.
Michael Vaughan and Alastair Cook amazed by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s power
Vaughan’s verdict on Sooryavanshi’s performance was short and emphatic. “What a player he is!”
Cook, watching him closely for the first time, admitted he had expected something different before seeing the innings unfold.
“I watched that. It was the first time I’ve seen him,” the England legend responded.
“I didn’t see his T20 hundred, and I was sort of thinking he was just going to back away and hack it. He actually wasn’t, was he? He was just strong [and has] unbelievable bat speed.
“Some of the shots… this English guy bowled one ball back of a length, on fourth stump, not a bad ball, and he went for six over point.”
Cook’s assessment focused on technique rather than recklessness, mirroring his approach during his playing career.
For a 14-year-old to dismantle good-length bowling over point in a World Cup final only amplified the sense that something rare is emerging.
Jos Buttler makes bold claim about 14-year-old star
Jos Buttler went even further in his praise last week, framing Sooryavanshi’s age as the defining factor.
“My statement is he’s the best player I’ve ever seen, ’cause I’m like, who else was doing this at 14 years old?
“If he’s doing that at 14, what’s he gonna be doing at 16, 18, 20?” he said on the For The Love Of Cricket podcast.
Buttler’s comments underlined the scale of the achievement rather than offering a literal comparison across eras.
What stood out most was the disbelief that someone so young could dominate a World Cup final with such authority.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
