Ferguson says Sooryavanshi's India call-up is no surprise
Lockie Ferguson backed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's India call-up, saying the 15-year-old's IPL performances made his selection unsurprising.
New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson said it is no surprise that 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been named in India's T20I squad for the five-match series beginning October 22. Ferguson faced the teenager in the IPL and described him as proper talent.
Sooryavanshi has been selected after back-to-back IPL seasons in which he performed at a high level. Ferguson said he is looking forward to the challenge of bowling to the left-hander on New Zealand pitches. The 35-year-old also returns to New Zealand's ODI setup after three years and will feature in the fourth and fifth matches against India starting November 4.
Ferguson noted that Arshdeep Singh, with whom he shared an IPL dressing room, will enjoy bowling in New Zealand due to the extra swing and bounce available to fast bowlers there. India will play two Tests, five ODIs and five T20Is during the tour.
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Ferguson's endorsement matters because he has seen Sooryavanshi up close in the IPL. The teenager now faces the test of translating domestic dominance into international conditions that reward swing and bounce.