“Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Is a Miracle”: Vivek Razdan Urges Patience With India’s Teenage Sensation Ahead Of AFG Series

New Delhi, September 12: India's next T20I assignment begins on home soil tomorrow as Afghanistan host the Men in Blue at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The squad will be led by Shreyas Iyer and features big names like Jasprit Bumrah and Sanju Samson. While the spotlight turns towards proven stars, there will be Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also in the fray, who will be itching to go out there and take the centre stage by storm using his explosive batting.

Sooryavanshi has had a hot-and-cold start to his career for India, becoming the youngest-ever debutant for the country at 15 years old. In six games so far, the left-handed opener has scored 193 runs at a strike rate of 189.21, including two fifties.

However, one of the major things that comes with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is workload management. The problem of injuries plaguing the Indian team and the upcoming Asian Games also raises a major question in front of the selectors: Are we exposing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi too much at such a young age?

Speaking to select media outlets at a roundtable conference, former cricketer and now a commentator Vivek Razdan laid out the importance of having a player like Vaibhav in the side.

'You Cannot Really Escape From Exposing Him'

According to Razdan, it would be difficult for India to completely shield Sooryavanshi from international exposure, particularly after the teenager has already made his mark in the IPL and at the international level.

"You cannot really escape exposing him because he has already played in the IPL. It is not as if you are rushing him too soon. He has already done something remarkable. It is a miracle.

"Everyone needs to understand that miracles are not made, they are born. We have seen such miracles in cricket before, and Vaibhav is one of them. The important thing now is how we handle him.

"T20 cricket is a different kind of game. He has had a fantastic first year, but moving forward, the challenge will be how he can repeat those performances year after year. That is what will take him, both as a player and as a cricketer, to another level."

While Razdan believes exposure cannot be avoided, he stressed that India must exercise caution when managing the teenager's workload. With a packed international calendar and the Asian Games also on the horizon, the focus should be on ensuring that Sooryavanshi's development is not compromised.

"So now the challenge is how to handle him. We have seen him being brought into the field in international matches, and I feel a little more patience can be shown with him.

"There is no hurry. The car is not going anywhere. If you do not have a sportsman like him, then you understand the value of having one. But now that we have someone like Vaibhav, we need to give him the right environment.

"We also have players like Abhishek Sharma. I just told you about Sanju Samson, who made the most runs in the World Cup with a strike rate of 200. So yes, a little more patience can be shown with Vaibhav. "He has a very long journey ahead of him. He is a horse for the long race, so there is no need for impatience at this stage."

Razdan's comments underline the delicate balance India face. Sooryavanshi's extraordinary ability makes him difficult to leave out, but his age also means that every decision around his workload needs to be carefully considered.

Sachin Tendulkar: A Reminder Of What Patience Can Produce

Razdan also drew a comparison with one of the greatest cricketers India has ever produced, Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar made his India debut as a 16-year-old in 1989 and went on to establish himself as one of the most celebrated players in the history of the sport.

"It is a big name, and it feels good to see that after so many years. In 1989, a 15-year-old youngster came into the Indian team, went with us to Pakistan, and eventually played 200 Test matches. He was later honoured with the Bharat Ratna. "We hope Vaibhav also turns out to be such a miracle, goes a long way, and makes his country proud. But for that to happen, a little patience is important at this stage. He should not be put under unnecessary pressure."

Tendulkar's journey serves as a reminder that extraordinary teenage talent needs more than opportunities. It also requires patience, careful management and the right environment to develop over a long career.

For Sooryavanshi, the comparisons with Tendulkar are naturally enormous, but the immediate priority remains clear: allowing the youngster to grow at his own pace while giving him enough opportunities to showcase his remarkable talent.