Former India batter Robin Uthappa believes teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has the potential to leave a bigger mark on white-ball cricket than Sachin Tendulkar, but warned that the youngster’s career will ultimately depend on how he is managed over the next few years.
Speaking on CommBoxTV, Uthappa said the 15-year-old possesses extraordinary talent but stressed that Indian cricket has previously seen several gifted youngsters lose their way after making sensational starts to their careers.
TENDULKAR COMPARISON
“He could have a bigger impact on white-ball than Tendulkar. But how he’s managed is going to be important. We’ve seen in Indian cricket exciting players come through the ranks. We saw Vinod Kambli and Prithvi Shaw and started asking what they would become when they were 17-18 years old. And then suddenly they fall off the wagon,” Uthappa said.
Sooryavanshi has rapidly emerged as one of India’s brightest batting prospects after impressing in domestic cricket before making a dream start to his international career. His fearless stroke play, composure and ability to dominate bowling attacks at just 15 have already made him one of the most talked-about young cricketers in the country.
While Uthappa believes the youngster has the talent to eclipse even Tendulkar’s influence in white-ball cricket, he insisted that raw ability alone will not determine the course of his career.
STAYING GROUNDED
The former India wicketkeeper-batter said Sooryavanshi’s biggest challenge would be preserving the hunger and innocence that have defined his rise so far.
“So that will be Vaibhav’s first test. Can he stay pristine for the game over a period of five years? He’s 15 now, so can he stay pristine till he’s 20? There’s so much innocence to who he is that you want that to be protected,” Uthappa said.
“I love the fact that he’s saying no to every advertisement and he’s focusing only on cricket. Because when he’s 18, he’ll start being perceived as a man and the female attention will come. That can be a distraction as well.”
Uthappa also acknowledged that setbacks are inevitable in any sporting career and said the teenager would need the right people around him to navigate the pressures that come with early success.
“There will be trials and tribulations in his career, and how he overcomes those will be key. I only hope he has the right support system and mentors to protect him from the world and allow him to live in a bubble until he is ready to explore the outside world.”
“His career is not going to be pristine as much as we want it to be. There are going to be ups and downs as part of the journey,” he added.
Despite drawing comparisons with one of the greatest batters the game has seen, Uthappa’s message was one of caution rather than expectation. The former India batter believes Sooryavanshi has the talent to redefine white-ball cricket, but only if he is shielded from distractions and given the time and guidance to fulfil his immense potential.
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