TG20: 'A Lot To Learn From Him,' Says Aaron George On Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Rise

TG20: A lot to learn from him, says Aaron George on Vaibhav Sooryavanshis rise (Image Source: IANS)

Ranga Reddy Risers: Aaron George has shared a dressing room with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi at various stages in the India U19 team, including in this year’s World Cup win in Zimbabwe and Namibia. Now, watching his former team-mate go from the age-group set-up to the senior India side currently on T20I tour of England has left a deep impression on George, who’s turning out for Ranga Reddy Risers in the ongoing TG20 tournament.

"He's been doing a great job ever since he's been playing for the under-19 and now he's playing for the senior side. So it gives me a lot of joy personally to see my teammate rise to higher standards like that. Very happy with how he's doing and obviously a lot to learn from him. His clarity of thought, the way he swings his bat - there's a lot of takeaways and I'm very happy about seeing Vaibhav at the higher level," George said in an exclusive conversation with IANS.

That instinct to learn from those around him has become something of a theme for George, who was quick to praise the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) for putting together a tournament that gives fringe and emerging cricketers a genuine stage to express themselves.

"It's been great and I think it's a great initiative that the Hyderabad Cricket Association has taken, giving a lot of exposure to young talents and also people who have not made very far in their career and are still fighting for a spot. So it's a tournament where there are a lot of diverse cricketers, a lot of different talents and it's great to have a platform like this at a young age," he said.

George further pointed out the tournament’s real worth is not just about the cricket, but about turning a group of well‑known players into functioning as a proper team. "Oh, it's been very good. I think it's all about talking to new people, communicating with them, and understanding how all of us can be effective in a team environment.

“We've all done very well personally, obviously, to be playing this tournament. But how we come across each other as a team, how we can help our team go to greater heights - that is what our preparation was all about and it's been going great."

On the tactical side, George is aware that the modern game places a premium on power-hitting, but he is clear that there is more than one route to being effective with the bat in T20s. "As you can see, the game is always changing. The demands are going to be different in a few more years. So, as of now, the power aspect of the game is being given great light and all players have different ways of dealing with that.

“I am somebody who has used a lot of (on-ground shots) - I play a lot in the gap, or I run a lot during my batting. So depending on the requirement, it's a team sport and what the equation is, how many runs are required, at which over we make our decisions and move across.

“It’s because there is not only one way out, there are different solutions for the same problem. So, we deal with whatever our strengths are, and how we can be effective in that situation with whatever we have got in our army," he added.

A captain in nearly every age-group side he has represented, including leading Hyderabad to the Vinoo Mankad Trophy title after a 38-year wait, George has had to adjust to a different role in TG20, where the dressing room is populated by far more experienced campaigners, and he has embraced the change.

"Most of the teams that I've played in, I've always led. I've been the captain in almost every place I've played, or at least vice-captaincy per se. But when it comes to senior cricket over here, it's different to feel like a junior because everybody is older and they've played their share of cricket. So for me, it's about learning from them.

"Also, let it be a senior or junior, there's always something you can correct and there's always something you can learn from them. So, that was the approach I got into the tournament with and I'm liking every conversation I'm having with my seniors. It's really helping me understand the game better, and know how they think. Like I mentioned before, the diversity is a great part of this tournament," he said.

George, who has recorded scores of 7, 27, 35 and 6 so far, also spoke of the freedom his coaching staff have given him to play his natural game, having worked with several of them outside the confines of the TG20. "When it comes to our team, I've already worked with the coaches on different occasions outside of the TG20 tournament. They're all people who know my capability and what I can bring to the table and they have given me a free hand since the start.

“They've asked me to follow my instincts and bat the way I want to. Obviously, me batting the way I want to is going to give the team the best results when it works out. So I am clear about my role and there is good coordination among all the players and the coaches."

George, who has recorded scores of 7, 27, 35 and 6 so far, also spoke of the freedom his coaching staff have given him to play his natural game, having worked with several of them outside the confines of the TG20. "When it comes to our team, I've already worked with the coaches on different occasions outside of the TG20 tournament. They're all people who know my capability and what I can bring to the table and they have given me a free hand since the start.

“Once I'm done with the tournament, I'm going to start working on, probably new shots or trying to get more range into my batting, more power, whatever it is, post the tournament. But as of now, I know what my strengths are and I'm going to stick to that preparation," he signed off.

Article Source: IANS