With rising success often comes criticism. While healthy scepticism is part of sport, deliberate attempts to question a player’s integrity have now drawn attention after remarks made by Pakistan cricket analyst Nauman Niaz about young Indian batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Known for his outspoken and controversial opinions, Niaz targeted the 15-year-old prodigy shortly after he smashed his second Indian Premier League (IPL) century. He alleged, without evidence, that Sooryavanshi might be using an “AI chip” in his bat to generate extra power.
“Think about it. What is this kid? Get his bat checked. Like WADA conducts dope tests, send him to a lab. He probably used an AI chip in his bat. He is unreal. What a player,” Niaz said during a programme titled SmashHit.
He further questioned the teenager’s power-hitting ability, adding speculative comments about his technique and physical development.
Despite such remarks, Sooryavanshi continues to impress on the field. The youngster narrowly missed out on the fastest IPL century record with a 78 off 26 balls against Royal Challengers Bengaluru but bounced back strongly after a brief dip in form.
He went on to score a blistering century off 37 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad, further cementing his reputation as one of the most promising young batters in world cricket.
With 357 runs from eight matches, Sooryavanshi currently sits among the top run-scorers of the season, ahead of several established stars. His performances have placed him in strong contention for the Orange Cap race.
In a short span, the teenager has built an impressive resume, with centuries across multiple countries and success at the Under-19 level, including a World Cup victory earlier this year.
As talk of an India senior team call-up grows, Sooryavanshi’s rapid rise continues to draw attention across the cricketing world. (Agency)
