Sano, September 21, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India all-rounder Washington Sundar has praised teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, describing his combination of natural skill and sharp cricketing intelligence as a dangerous force capable of winning matches for the country.
Speaking ahead of India’s one-off T20I against Japan on Tuesday, Sundar said Sooryavanshi understands his own game and has the ability to adapt to different opponents and conditions.
“He’s just extremely skillful and obviously, he’s got a great head as well. He understands his own game and also understands how to win battles against different oppositions and different conditions as well,” Sundar said.
“He’s extremely smart and being really smart along with his skill sets is obviously going to be a dangerous combo. He’s already shown us what he’s capable of and obviously, we can all expect him to win a lot of games for our country,” he added.
Sundar also encouraged cricket enthusiasts in Japan to visit India during a major international series or the Indian Premier League (IPL) to experience the popularity of the sport in the country.
“Cricket is like a religion in India. Everybody celebrates through the game and obviously, it’s a massive blessing for all of us to be playing cricket in India and being from India and also to be playing at the highest level for the country,” he said.
Reflecting on his own journey, the Chennai-based cricketer said cricket had been an integral part of his life since childhood and highlighted the sport’s deep-rooted popularity across generations in India.
Sundar also credited the IPL for setting a high benchmark in global T20 franchise cricket. He said the league has continued to grow since its inception in 2008 while maintaining a high standard of cricket and attracting leading players from India and around the world.
He described the opportunity to play in the IPL as a major platform for young cricketers, adding that representing India has always remained the ultimate goal for aspiring players.
“The IPL created a beautiful platform for us to look forward to playing a franchise league as well, especially in the T20 format. It’s the best league in this format,” Sundar said.
Commenting on the growth of cricket in Japan and the Japan Premier League (JPL), Sundar welcomed the sport’s expansion into new regions.
He said he would keep track of the players featuring in Japan and the JPL, adding that it would be encouraging if players from Japan eventually earned opportunities to play in the IPL.
India will face Japan in the one-off T20I on Tuesday in Sano.
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