Prepare for board exams… play street cricket, who told Vaibhav Suryavanshi this?

New Delhi. Whenever any extraordinary talent emerges in Indian cricket, there is a flood of expectations. 15 year old young sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi is currently the biggest ‘talking point’ of Indian cricket. Everyone is surprised to see Vaibhav’s extraordinary ability, but at present the entire cricket world is divided into two factions regarding his international debut. On one hand, there is eagerness to see him in Team India’s jersey as soon as possible, on the other hand, serious concerns are also being raised regarding his childhood and mental health.

‘Vaibhav Suryavanshi should play cricket, but first live his childhood’
The strongest and most emotional voice in this entire matter has come from former South African batsman Daryl Cullinan. In a special column written for ‘Cricinfo’, Cullinan has expressed deep concern about Vaibhav’s future. Cullinan believes that no one has even the slightest doubt on Vaibhav’s talent, but the immense pressure of international cricket at such a young age can swallow his career.

Cullinan made it clear that his views were not a criticism, but a concern of a well-wisher. He wrote, ‘According to me, Vaibhav should stay at home and prepare for his exams, play street cricket with friends and live as normal a childhood as possible. This does not mean that his talent should be ignored, but his talent will blossom fully only when his personality also gets time to develop. This concern is also relevant because Vaibhav had even skipped his Class 10 board exams to play in IPL 2026 this year. Cullinan’s point is clear that a child’s natural development should not be left behind in the glamor of cricket.

The cruel era of social media and the burden of millions of expectations
Cullinan has well underlined the difference between the cricket environment of today and that of the past. He believes that Vaibhav is not just playing a game, but he has become a part of the world’s largest and most pressured cricket ecosystem. Today’s digital era is not like the 90s. Today, every shot, every bad shot, every press conference and even the smallest mistake made on the field goes viral on social media within seconds. According to Cullinan, earlier players used to get solace in the quiet environment by leaving the field, but today the Internet has bridged the distance between a child and millions of critics. This 24-hour trolling and praise can shake the mental balance of any 15 year old child.

Sachin Tendulkar can become the best ‘mentor’
On this difficult path, Cullinan has described the country’s greatest cricketer Sachin Tendulkar as the best guide for Vaibhav. Sachin also entered international cricket at the age of 16 and he knows how the burden of expectations of the entire country rests on the shoulders of a teenager. Cullinan expressed hope that Vaibhav will get guidance from Sachin Tendulkar, because there can be no better mentor for him than Sachin, who himself bore this pressure and handled the hopes of the country for 24 years.

Rage among giants: Ashwin vs Gavaskar
Vaibhav Suryavanshi was recently included in India’s T20 team, but he did not get a place in the playing eleven on the Ireland tour. The team management made it clear that they did not want to tamper with the winning combination and they wanted to give time to Vaibhav to adjust to the international environment.

Opinion is divided on this decision of the team also
Legends like the great batsman Sunil Gavaskar believe that when the talent is so extraordinary, age should not be considered and he should be given a chance as soon as possible. At the same time, experienced spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes that Vaibhav should wait for his turn. Instead of being hasty, he should understand the culture of the team and the atmosphere of the dressing room.