New Delhi, March 20
Former India left-arm fast bowler Irfan Pathan has urged caution in managing teenaged batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, adding that it's very important for the left-hander to not let either success or failure get to his head.
Sooryavanshi is yet to turn 15, but has already made big runs in his cricketing career so far, including being the fastest Indian batter to hit a century in the IPL (in just 35 balls), and was retained by Rajasthan Royals (RR) ahead of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
He's also coming on the back of being Player of the Tournament and Player of the Final in the 2026 Men's U19 World Cup, won by India. "It is very important for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi not to let success or failure get to his head. It's quite a sensitive age because he is just about 15 years old. At this stage, he potentially has a 20-year professional career ahead of him.
"In today's time, where longevity is not always a priority and careers can be short, you can still achieve a lot in 6 to 8 years. But Vaibhav could have a much longer journey. Naturally, it is important that someone consistently stays with him as a guide, a good mentor who can support him over time, the role Rahul Dravid played last year," said Pathan on JioStar.
He also spoke about how Sooryavanshi needs to constantly improve his game to stay ahead of the opposition's plans to counter him. "At the same time, he must keep improving his game constantly. It is possible that this season, teams may plan against him, like bowling consistently outside the off stump and keeping the ball away from his reach.
"He will need to counter that, even if it comes with the risk of getting out. Also, he might face the same challenges that Abhishek Sharma did, different types of bowling and constant variations in pace, so how he adapts and finds ways to score in those situations will be key."
Ex-India opener Aakash Chopra said Sooryavanshi's fearless approach must be tempered with consistency in IPL's high-pressure environment. "'If the first one is there to be hit, I will go for it' is a very good philosophy. But if it happens three times that you go for the first ball and, God forbid, you don't connect properly and get out, that is when problems start. The IPL is a different beast.
"They may not say it in as many words, but it reminds me of my playing days in England, where if you have one or two off days back-to-back, someone would come up and say, 'Bro, time to earn your money,' because you are being paid to score runs. That thought lingers on your mind, that you are getting paid to perform, and the IPL has a similar dynamic.
"He got some exposure last year, when Rahul Dravid was there as well, and you could see tears in his eyes after getting out in one of the games. This time, there are expectations, and he will carry that burden. Even though we are talking about him, saying that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will come and score runs, so in that regard, it is a huge season for him," he added.
- IANS
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