‘We tried to do as much research as possible on him’: Lorcan Tucker impressed with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hype

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: Ireland captain Lorcan Tucker was left in awe of the anticipation surrounding India’s 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ahead of the upcoming T20I series, calling his rise “quite unbelievable” for the modern professional era.“It’s pretty unbelievable for them to have a 15-year-old kid on their team,” Tucker said in Thursday’s pregame press conference.“I never thought it would be possible in this professional era of the game, especially with the amount of work that goes into professional cricket and the level of players. So credit to him – he’s a pretty special player,” he said.Tucker also highlighted the wider excitement generated by the young man’s arrival, particularly among Ireland’s large Indian community.“We have a huge Indian community in Ireland who I know will be massively ready to watch this game and see Vaibhav. That’s what most of the hype is about here, his debut in this series,” he added.Reflecting on Sooryavanshi’s rapid rise, Tucker added: “He’s obviously an absolutely incredible talent. We’ve tried to do as much scouting on him as possible. I think he’s blown up the IPL, an incredible 75 sixes or whatever it was, and the skill level is absolutely incredible.”He further highlighted the wider impact of the teenager’s arrival on the sport.“It gives the game something to talk about. It’s really exciting. The energy that it brings to the series is wonderful, not only for us, but for the people who come to watch it, for the people who watch at home, and for the kids playing around the corner,” he said.Tucker also acknowledged Sooryavanshi’s role as a growing global figure in the game.“As much as we try to be a role model for the Irish players, I think just like it’s the responsibility of all players around the world to be a role model. So I know Vaibhav is just a young lad but he’s still an incredible player and he’s a pretty special role model for cricketers around the world and for the kids that come through it,” he added.

Ireland are preparing for a ‘baptism of fire’ against India

As for the series itself, Tucker admitted his side face a steep challenge against the reigning T20 World Cup holders, particularly with an injury-hit bowling attack.“I think it’s a bit of a baptism of fire and it’s a tough challenge,” he said. “But I think at the end of the day, it’s a game of cricket… As incredible as the Indian players are, they also have a lot of pressure on them.”Ireland were forced into changes, with Reuben Wilson, Matthew Hollard and Jai Moondra coming on for injured pacers Mark Adair, Josh Little and Barry McCarthy. Tucker backed Moondra to make an impact despite her inexperience.“He’s shown real skill with the new ball… He’s got all the skills,” he said.Looking ahead, Tucker stressed that early breakthroughs would be vital if Ireland were to challenge India’s aggressive batting line-up.“We know it’s a formidable line-up … they’re going to attack. The pitch should probably be a bit slower than what they’re used to. Hopefully that can make the difference for us,” he said.