Former Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya has commended India’s emerging batting talents Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, recognising their potential to become key players for the national team.
Jayasuriya, regarded as one of the best all-rounders and a highly destructive batter in his era, made the remarks during the launch event of the Corporate Cricket World Cup in Gurugram.
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He stated, “He is a player who has established himself in the team. He knows how important his place is and (he is) for the team, what he needs for the team. And he has given his best shot. So, the players individually, if you mention, everyone wants to do well for their country. And so these are the players, young players who are in India, so that’s a good future for India cricket.” Jayasuriya was referring to Abhishek Sharma, who recently scored a record-breaking century against Afghanistan in the third T20 International at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Sharma hit 108 runs off 34 balls, reaching
Sharma hit 108 runs off 34 balls, reaching his century in 31 deliveries as India posted 221 for 7 after choosing to bat first. His performance earned him both Player of the Match and Player of the Series honours during the three-match series. India then dismissed Afghanistan for 94 runs in 14.1 overs, with bowlers Ravi Bishnoi and Nitish Kumar Reddy taking three wickets each. The 127-run victory sealed a 3-0 series sweep for India and represented Afghanistan’s heaviest defeat in T20 International cricket, as well as their lowest score against India in the format.
Regarding Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Jayasuriya described him as “definitely exciting for the future for India cricket” but emphasised the need for continued dedication. “He has a long way to go, and he needs to work hard. And hope he will deliver for India,” he added.
At 15 years old, Sooryavanshi has already demonstrated significant promise. He became the youngest player at 15 years and 157 days to score a half-century in the history of the Duleep Trophy, breaking a 57-year-old record. During East Zone’s semifinal against Central Zone in the 2026 Duleep Trophy, he scored 92 runs off 81 balls in the first innings and added 40 runs in the final innings, contributing to East Zone’s four-wicket win and progression to the final.
Sooryavanshi also recorded 151 runs across three matches
Sooryavanshi also recorded 151 runs across three matches against Zimbabwe, earning his first Player of the Series award as India completed a 3-0 series sweep. Earlier, he made his international debut in a T20I series against England, becoming India’s youngest player to do so. His selection followed an outstanding Indian Premier League 2026 campaign with Rajasthan Royals, where he amassed 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30, including one century and five half-centuries. He finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer and set a record with 72 sixes.
The young cricketer also earned multiple awards post-season, including the Orange Cap, Most Valuable Player, Emerging Player, Super Striker, and Super Sixes honours. Earlier this year, he was named Player of the Tournament at the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup after scoring 439 runs, underscoring his considerable potential.
The Corporate Cricket World Cup, described as the world’s first global corporate cricket tournament, was officially launched at an event in Gurugram. The competition aims to unite the corporate cricket community through matches held across 24 cities, culminating in the inaugural Corporate World Cup in July 2027.
The tournament is organised by Pro Corporate League (PCL), a pioneering corporate cricket platform in India with a 15-year history of organising and promoting corporate cricket. Building on this experience, PCL is expanding the reach of corporate cricket internationally through the Corporate World Cup.
Source: thenewsmill.com
