Former Sri Lanka captain Anura Tennekoon has advised Indian teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi to stay focused on his game and ignore the outside noise surrounding his rapid rise in cricket.
Tennekoon, who had travelled to Dambulla to watch the India A-Sri Lanka A Tri-Nation Series match, met the 15-year-old after the game and offered words of encouragement.
According to reports, Suryavanshi sought Tennekoon’s blessings before the former Sri Lanka captain shared his advice.
“You focus on your game and cut out the outside noise,” Tennekoon told the youngster.
“Today, unfortunately, you couldn’t get going. But that’s part of the game, you can’t get going every day,” he added.
Tennekoon, Sri Lanka’s first ODI captain, described Suryavanshi as a “generational talent” and praised the youngster’s fearless batting.
“I was really impressed by his batting in the IPL. Hitting those sixes and fours the way he does is something unbelievable. I hope he continues in this way,” Tennekoon said.
Suryavanshi scored 21 runs in the match as India A suffered a dramatic Super Over defeat to Sri Lanka A in Dambulla. (Newswire)
As the India-A players remained locked in a lengthy discussion inside the dressing room following their dramatic Super Over defeat to Sri Lanka-A, a septuagenarian stood patiently outside, waiting for just one player.
The spectators had long left the Rangiri International… pic.twitter.com/ZZsZOdUwQ9
— Sportstar (@sportstarweb) June 15, 2026
