NEW DELHI: Ireland captain Lorcan Tucker has been 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 “pretty incredible” for the modern professional era.“It’s pretty incredible for them to have a 15-year-old on their team,” Tucker said in the pre-match press conference on Thursday.“I didn’t ever think that was going to be possible in this professional era of the game, especially with the amount of work that goes into professional cricket and the standard of the players. So, credit to him – he’s a pretty special player,” he said.Tucker also highlighted the wider excitement generated by the youngster’s emergence, especially among Ireland’s sizeable Indian community.“We have a huge Indian community in Ireland that I know will be massively ready to watch this game, and they’ll see Vaibhav. That’s what most of the hype is about here, about him making 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 research as we can on him. I think he blew the IPL up, the incredible hitting 75 sixes or whatever it was, like the skill level there is absolutely incredible.”He further underlined the broader impact of the teenager’s emergence on the sport.“It gives the game something to talk about. It’s really exciting. Energy like that coming into a series is fabulous not only for us, but for people coming to watch, for people watching at home, and for those kids playing around the corner,” he said.Tucker also acknowledged Sooryavanshi’s role as a rising global figure in the game.“As much as we try to be role models for the Irish players, I think as much as it’s the responsibility, I think, of all players around the world to be role models. So I know Vaibhav is only a young boy, but he’s still an incredible player, and he is a pretty special role model for cricketers all around the world now and kids coming through,” he further added.
Ireland brace for “baptism by fire” against India
Turning to the series itself, Tucker admitted his side faces a steep challenge against the reigning T20 World Cup holders, especially with an injury-hit bowling attack.“I think it is a bit of a baptism by fire, and it’s a tough challenge first up,” he said. “But I think just to trust that at the end of the day, it is a game of cricket… As much as the Indian players are incredible, they also have a lot of pressure on them.”Ireland have been forced into changes, with Reuben Wilson, Matthew Hollard, and Jai Moondra stepping in for injured pacers Mark Adair, Josh Little, and Barry McCarthy. Tucker backed Moondra to make an impact despite his 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 are to challenge India’s aggressive batting unit.“We know they’re a formidable lineup… they’re going to come out all out attack. The pitch should probably be a bit on the slower side than what they’re used to. So hopefully, that can make the difference for us,” he said.
