At just 14 years old, Vaibhav Suryavanshi has taken the Indian Premier League (IPL) by storm, etching his name into cricketing history with a blistering 35-ball century – the second-fastest hundred in the tournament’s history.
But amid his meteoric rise, former India coach Greg Chappell has issued a thoughtful warning to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about the need to manage the young prodigy’s development carefully.
Greg Chappell’s Special Advice on Suryavanshi
In his latest column for ESPNcricinfo, Chappell reflected on the contrasting journeys of three of India’s most talked-about young talents — Sachin Tendulkar, Vinod Kambli, and Prithvi Shaw.
“Sachin Tendulkar succeeded as a teenager not simply due to talent, but because of a solid support system – a stoic temperament, a wise coach, and a family that protected him from the circus.
On the other hand, Vinod Kambli, equally talented and perhaps more flamboyant, struggled to balance fame and discipline. His fall was as dramatic as his rise.
Prithvi Shaw is another wonder kid who has fallen but may yet find a way back to the pinnacle,” Chappell wrote.
The cricketing world has witnessed several teenage sensations. While Tendulkar went on to become arguably the greatest batter in the game’s history after debuting at 16, others like Kambli and Shaw shone brightly only to fade too soon.
Chappell emphasized that Kambli, despite his immense talent, lacked the emotional resilience and structured guidance that helped Tendulkar thrive — factors that contributed to Kambli’s rapid fall from grace.
Protect Vaibhav Suryavanshi
As Vaibhav steps further into the spotlight, the real challenge lies not in his talent, but in managing his career trajectory. Chappell has urged the BCCI to implement a structured development plan that includes:
Mental health support
Media training
Fitness conditioning
Mentorship guidance
These safeguards are vital to help Vaibhav navigate fame, pressure, and expectations at such a young age.
Vaibhav, the youngest player in this year’s IPL, has already impressed with his composure, fearlessness, and strokeplay well beyond his years. In just his debut season, he has proven that talent can transcend age but only if nurtured with care.
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