Aaron George, playing for Ranga Reddy Risers in the ongoing TG20 tournament, has spoken warmly about the rapid rise of his former India Under-19 team-mate Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who is currently on the senior side's T20I tour of England. George, who shared a dressing room with Sooryavanshi at multiple stages of age-group cricket — including the U19 World Cup triumph in Zimbabwe and Namibia earlier this year — says watching the youngster make that leap has been both inspiring and instructive.

George on Sooryavanshi's Rise

'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.

The admiration is not passive. George has made learning a deliberate habit — from Sooryavanshi's example at the top, and from the senior campaigners around him at the TG20.

What the TG20 Means for Emerging Cricketers

George was quick to credit the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) for creating a platform that serves both fringe players and emerging talent. '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.

Beyond individual exposure, George stressed that the tournament's real value lies in building collective understanding. 'It's all about talking to new people, communicating with them, and understanding how all of us can be effective in a team environment,' he added. 'How we can help our team go to greater heights — that is what our preparation was all about.'

His Batting Philosophy in T20s

On adapting to T20 demands, George acknowledged the game's growing emphasis on power-hitting but maintained that effectiveness can take multiple forms. 'I play a lot in the gap, or I run a lot during my batting. There is not only one way out — there are different solutions for the same problem. We deal with whatever our strengths are,' he explained.

George has registered scores of 7, 27, 35 and 6 in the tournament so far, playing with the freedom his coaching staff — several of whom he has worked with outside the TG20 — have explicitly encouraged. 'They've asked me to follow my instincts and bat the way I want to,' he said.

Adjusting to a Junior Role

A captain in nearly every side he has represented — including leading Hyderabad to the Vinoo Mankad Trophy title after a 38-year wait — George has had to recalibrate at the TG20, where the dressing room is populated by far more experienced players. He has embraced the shift.

'Most of the teams that I've played in, I've always led. 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,' he said. 'The diversity is a great part of this tournament.'

What Comes Next

George is focused on consolidating his strengths for the remainder of the TG20, with plans to expand his range — including new shots and greater power — once the tournament concludes. 'As of now, I know what my strengths are and I'm going to stick to that preparation,' he said. With the senior pathway clearly visible through Sooryavanshi's example, George appears determined to make every game count.