CHENNAI: Rajasthan Royals have relied on young talent to succeed – with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi at the top of the list. Performance coach Siddhartha Lahiri is one of the people behind the team who has helped shape the youth structure and also oversees the RR academies globally.
Talking about Sooryavanshi’s meteoric rise, Lahiri told TOI: “He does have tremendous ability, he is a freak and a 14-year-old has such potential. He is at that stage of his life where he loves cricket and loves batting. From a cricketing perspective, we can only hope that he continues to do things that don’t look real.”
The coach emphasized that the team’s goal is not only to develop players, but also to develop high-quality coaches. Their academies have produced international names like Ollie Pope, Shoaib Bashir and Phil Salt, while at home the focus remains on nurturing talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel.
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Sanju Samson’s departure is a blow to Royals and Lahiri admitted his absence will be felt in the team. “He was one of the best white-ball cricketers and a talented player. Of course, he will be missed. I was privileged to see him play some great games for us… People are talking about his success in the World Cup in the last three games but we at Royals are used to it. It was a mutual decision to part ways and I wish him every success.”
Despite last year’s mixed season, Lahiri backed Parag’s leadership credentials and expressed strong confidence in the youngster. “He is brilliant. He has led his domestic team; he played cricket for Assam, which means he knows what it means to be an underdog. He is very well respected within the Royals and has a good rapport with head coach Kumar Sangakkara and the team. I believe Parag has the ability to be an astute leader,” he said.
Lahiri also pointed out that Parag has made significant progress in the white-ball format. “Had it not been for a minor shoulder injury, he would have probably been part of the T20 World Cup squad. He is an incredible white-ball player and fits in well with the fearless brand of cricket that India is playing,” he added.
