Former India great gives bold verdict on Vaibhav Suryavanshi

Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar has urged restraint amid the surging hype surrounding teenage batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi and other emerging Under-19 stars, cautioning that early success can often blur long-term perspective.

Suryavanshi has been one of the most talked-about young cricketers in recent months. The 14-year-old left-hander from Samastipur, Bihar, shot to prominence after a sensational IPL 2025 debut with Rajasthan Royals, where he stunned seasoned bowlers with a whirlwind 35-ball century against Gujarat Titans. His fearless strokeplay against the likes of Mohammed Siraj, Ishant Sharma, Prasidh Krishna and Rashid Khan quickly made him a household name.

Riding that momentum, Suryavanshi carried his form into youth cricket, piling up runs in Youth ODIs against England, Australia and South Africa. Expectations rose further as he entered the Under-19 World Cup, with many tipping him to be the tournament’s standout performer. Though his campaign began modestly with a score of 2 against the USA, he responded with a confident 72 against Bangladesh in Bulawayo, underlining his ability to bounce back.

Despite the buzz, Gavaskar has warned against rushing to label young players as finished products. Writing in his column, the former opener stressed that Under-19 cricket is vastly different from first-class and international levels, and early dominance does not always translate into sustained success.

According to Gavaskar, recent examples from the IPL show that some young batters, dazzled by limited-overs success, tend to underestimate bowling attacks and pay the price for reckless shot selection. He emphasized that even an apparently ordinary attack can expose a moment’s lapse in judgment.

Also Read: U19 World Cup: Vihaan Malhotra, Vaibhav Suryavanshi help India beat Bangladesh by 18 runs

The batting great also underlined the value of experience within a young squad, suggesting that the presence of a senior player or mentor is vital to guide youngsters through pressure situations and keep them grounded. His advice to the current Under-19 group was clear: block out IPL distractions, focus on discipline and commit fully to the task of winning the World Cup.

Gavaskar’s views echo similar concerns raised earlier by former India women’s team head coach WV Raman, who cautioned that the transition from IPL to Under-19 cricket could be counterproductive if not handled carefully, potentially hindering a young player’s long-term development.