Sivaramakrishnan also felt that Sooryavanshi wouldn’t need rest due to his age and because he is a batsman. “He should be given a fair amount of chances with white ball cricket and see how he performs. He should continue. I mean, there’s no point in blooding a youngster and giving him a break or resting him. He doesn’t need rest. He can keep playing right throughout the year,” he said.

“Especially as a batter, he doesn’t need a bowler’s fitness. And batting for long periods of time will also give him that concentration, the mental work that he can do for long periods of time,” the former Tamil Nadu leg-break bowler observed.

While Sooryavanshi made 14 off 10 balls including two sixes in his maiden game, Sivaramakrishnan urged Indian team management to not think of resting him from now on.

“Once you decide to play him, you have got to give him ample opportunities. Remember, he is an investment for the next 20 years. I think what Vaibhav needs now is a lot of support from the coach (Gautam Gambhir) and the captain (Shreyas Iyer) and the rest of the players. Even if he does not do well in a few games, he should be backed. He should be continued,” he said.

England peppered the prodigy with short balls. Every delivery came with a disclaimer: age is of little relevance in the big boys’ club. Sooryavanshi swung and missed the first two deliveries he faced off Josh Tongue. His maiden international run was almost anti-climactic to the build-up: an inside-edged single while trying to survive a 145 kmph yorker.

Jofra Archer was once asked about Sooryavanshi’s weakness, to which he had replied: “I’ll tell you after the IPL.”

It became evident that he was saving his knowledge for today. He erred on his first ball to his Rajasthan Royals teammate, and was dispatched for a six. Thereafter, he pulled his length back.

However, whenever the ball was pitched up, it went flying. Like the first ball of the third over, which he almost caressed, but with enough venom to send it into the stands over midwicket. However, England did not let him settle.

Off-spinner Will Jacks was brought in the fourth over, and his first delivery to Sooryavanshi was an 80kmph floater. Having shown it the respect the delivery arguably did not deserve, he tried to smash the next one. Except, this was a 94kmph slider. Sooryavanshi found no connection, was beaten all ends up, and before he could react, saw the zing bails light up. Though two decades his senior, Jos Buttler was as sharp as ever behind the stumps.

Sooryavanshi has struck short deliveries with disdain and spite in the IPL. On a windy day at Manchester, though, the challenge was different. England’s plans paid dividends. But with two moments of brilliance, Sooryavanshi also offered enough glimpses into what seems to be a promising future.