Can Vaibhav Sooryavanshi become India’s next white ball superstar, or will he face the same struggles as many young talents before him?
Former India batter Robin Uthappa believes the answer will depend less on talent and more on how the 15 year old is guided.
Robin Uthappa said Sooryavanshi has the ability to leave a bigger impact on white ball cricket than Sachin Tendulkar.
Despite he warned that Indian cricket has seen several teenage stars lose their way despite making dream starts.
He pointed to the examples of Vinod Kambli and Prithvi Shaw, saying both were expected to achieve great things but couldn’t fulfil that potential.
According to Uthappa, the biggest challenge for Vaibhav is not scoring runs but staying focused during the next five years.
The former India batter praised the youngster for keeping cricket as his only priority and avoiding advertisements at this stage of his career.
He believes protecting Vaibhav from unnecessary distractions will be just as important as improving his game.
Uthappa also said setbacks are a part of every cricketer’s journey. For Vaibhav, having the right people around him during difficult phases could decide whether he reaches his full potential.
While comparisons with Sachin Tendulkar have already started, Uthappa feels it is still too early.
In his view, Vaibhav has the talent to achieve something special, but only if his career is handled the right way.
