Batting icon Sachin Tendulkar has described teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as a "truly special" talent and advised coaches and mentors to avoid interfering with the youngster’s natural game as he continues his remarkable ascent in Indian cricket.
After becoming the youngest player to score a century in IPL history during his debut season last year, Sooryavanshi further enhanced his reputation this season with a series of fearless innings against some of the finest bowlers in world cricket, including Jasprit Bumrah, Kagiso Rabada, and Pat Cummins.
“Everyone is talking about Sooryavanshi, and I watched him bat — it was magnificent. He is something truly special,” Tendulkar said during the Cricinfo Honours event. “It’s not just his ability to strike the ball cleanly. What fascinated me even more was the wrist work he possesses.”
Also read: PSG retain Champions League title after penalty win over Arsenal
The 15-year-old from Samastipur, Bihar, accumulated 776 runs in the IPL this season at an extraordinary strike rate of 237.31, firmly establishing himself as one of the brightest young prospects in the game. “To play shots all around the ground, you need excellent wrist work,” Tendulkar explained. “He is not merely slogging the ball. He picks up the line and length earlier than most players and is able to clear the boundary with ease.”
The legendary batter believes Sooryavanshi has the potential to represent India in Test cricket in the future but warned against burdening him with unrealistic expectations at such an early stage of his career. “I would tell him to remain true to himself,” Tendulkar said. “There is always a first time. As he grows older and gains experience, he will learn how to handle different challenges in Test cricket. What matters is having a solution-oriented mindset.”
“Challenges will always exist. They remain until the final day of your career and even the last ball you face. Every delivery is a question from the bowler, and the key is finding the right answers.”
Tendulkar praised the youngster’s confidence and clarity of thought, emphasizing that preserving those qualities is vital. “He looks extremely confident and very clear about what he wants to do. I would not want to tamper with those natural instincts.”
According to Tendulkar, allowing Sooryavanshi to trust his instincts will be crucial to his long-term development. “The way he sees the ball and reacts to it is unique. If that process is disrupted by too much advice or too many instructions, that becomes the real challenge.”
“I would give him the freedom to go out and bat the way he naturally does. With time, he will learn to deal with the other aspects and challenges of the game.” Tendulkar added that cricket fans across the country would love to see the teenager play Test cricket one day, although he stressed there is no need to rush the process.
“Not just me, but everyone would like to see him play Test cricket at some point. I don’t know when that will happen,” he said. “An exciting talent deserves encouragement. If he is performing well, we should support him, back him, and most importantly, enjoy watching him. There is no need to place constant pressure on him. Leave those decisions to the selectors and the people responsible for making them.”
Follow us
