Woodhill: The subtle piece of magic that has enabled India’s new wonder child

14-year-old phenomenon Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been the talk of world sport, now one of cricket’s leading batting coaches reveals the subtle piece of magic that has enabled India’s new wonder child.

One of cricket’s leading batting coaches has identified the subtle piece of magic that has enabled India’s new wonder child to smash 90-metre sixes.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi is the 14-year-old phenom who has been the talk of world sport since he smashed a six off his first ball in the Indian Premier League, and then went on to smash the second fastest century in the history of the tournament.

Trent Woodhill, a Sydney-based batting guru who has helped mould the likes of David Warner and Glenn Maxwell, has analysed every ball of Suryavanshi’s 35-ball hundred and explained why a kid can hit the world’s best bowlers further than experienced men.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been talk of the sports world. Picture: Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP

“Because he pulls his hands through the ball rather than pushing his hands through the ball, he can play it really late and doesn’t give up any power. And it’s repeatable,” Woodhill said as he watched all the highlights of an innings that changed cricket forever.

“A lot of Australian players still push at the ball or try to get power through a straight bat. He’s getting his through a baseball or golf-esque (technique) the way he (drags) through the ball.

“His head is forward, his hands are back and upon impact, his weight is neutral so he starts forward and then ends up on the back leg, exploding through the floor and through the ball.”

Woodhill says Suryavanshi reminds of him coaching a 15-year-old Nic Maddinson, a batsman he regarded as a phenomenal natural talent.

Suryavanshi has since crashed to dismissals of 0 and 4 in his next two innings, but Woodhill believes the kinks are fixable.

“If he over strides, if his base becomes too wide, he’s going to get through the ball a bit too early and he won’t be able to get his whole weight through the ball,” Woodhill said.

“This means he might hit flat balls to mid-off or mid on, so he’ll bring catches into play that way.

“When his stride’s small and his footwork is minimal, that’s when he looks at his best.

“When he’s been in trouble, it’s just when he’s over striding, which means he’s trying to hit the ball too hard.

“But it’s nothing of any concern. Nothing that’s going to be figured out by a bowler.

“What he’s done is amazing and no doubt he will only get better.”

Originally published as Woodhill: The subtle piece of magic that has enabled India’s new wonder child