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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's rise has been nothing short of extraordinary. At just 15 years of age, the Bihar prodigy has already achieved what countless cricketers only dream of by representing India at the highest level. However, with that opportunity comes enormous pressure, especially because he has taken the place of Sanju Samson in India's T20I playing XI.
That decision has already divided opinions among fans, making it even more important for the Indian team management to shield the youngster from unnecessary criticism. India head coach Gautam Gambhir has repeatedly backed fearless youngsters, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the latest example of that approach.
But backing a teenager is not limited to giving him a debut cap. It also means protecting him from the outside noise, social media scrutiny and comparisons that can easily affect a player who is only 15 years old. At this stage of his career, Sooryavanshi should be allowed to focus on learning and developing rather than carrying the burden of debates surrounding selection decisions.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi creates history with debut at 15
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scripted history when he made his T20I debut against England, becoming the youngest player to represent India in international cricket.
At 15 years and 99 days, he broke Sachin Tendulkar's long-standing record, with the legendary batter having debuted for India at the age of 16 years and 205 days in 1989.
The left-handed opener also became the first 15-year-old to play a T20 International for an ICC Full Member nation. Across all men's international cricket involving Full Member teams, only Pakistan's Hasan Raza is believed to have debuted at a younger age, although questions were later raised about his recorded age.
Before Sooryavanshi, only Ireland's Josh Little and Afghanistan's Mujeeb Ur Rahman had represented Full Member nations in T20Is at the age of 16. The milestone underlines just how highly Indian cricket rates the teenager.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's performance so far
Sooryavanshi has shown glimpses of his attacking intent in his first two T20Is, although the runs have not yet flowed consistently.
On debut against England in Manchester, the youngster scored 14 off 10 balls, striking at 140.00. He looked positive during a brisk opening stand before attempting to attack Will Jacks. Charging down the track, he missed the delivery and was smartly stumped by Jos Buttler.
In the third T20I at Trent Bridge, Sooryavanshi once again played fearlessly, scoring 13 off just five balls at a strike rate of 260.00.
He struck two boundaries before falling to Jofra Archer, who hurried him with a 145 km/h short ball. Trying to hook the express delivery, the teenager only managed a faint glove through to Buttler behind the stumps.
While the scores of 14 and 13 may not appear significant, they have come with an aggressive mindset that India clearly wants to encourage. At just 15, Sooryavanshi is still learning the demands of international cricket, and occasional failures are an inevitable part of that journey.
Why India must protect Vaibhav Sooryavanshi from the outside noise
In my opinion, this is where Gautam Gambhir and the Indian team management have their biggest responsibility.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has replaced Sanju Samson in India's playing XI, and that naturally brings immense attention. Samson is one of India's most popular cricketers, with a massive fan following that passionately supports him. Any youngster stepping into his place is bound to attract comparisons and criticism whenever results do not go India's way.
That became evident after India's heavy defeat in the third T20I against England, when "We want Sanju" chants were directed at Gautam Gambhir as he was leaving the stadium.
While those chants reflected the frustration of a section of supporters, exposing a 15-year-old to such an atmosphere repeatedly could have long-term consequences on his confidence and mental well-being. Sooryavanshi should never feel that he has to justify replacing another player every time he walks out to bat.
His focus should remain on improving his game, adapting to international cricket and fulfilling the role the team has assigned him. The responsibility of handling public opinion belongs to the management, not to a teenager. If India genuinely believes Sooryavanshi is part of their long-term plans, then they must continue to back him while keeping him away from the toxicity that often surrounds social media and fan debates.
Young talents flourish when they are given time, patience and a secure environment. Without that protection, even the brightest prospects can struggle under the weight of expectations. For that reason, protecting Vaibhav Sooryavanshi from the outside noise should be Gautam Gambhir's biggest priority over the coming months.
