‘Watch out for the sharks’: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gets stark warning after golden duck

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s meteoric rise in the Indian Premier League 2026 season has turned him into one of the most talked-about young cricketers in the country. The 15-year-old from Samastipur, Bihar, has been in sensational form, and his growing stardom has also brought increased attention off the field. However, amid the hype and endorsement deals, former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull has issued a timely warning.

Sooryavanshi first grabbed widespread attention with his explosive knock in the Under-19 World Cup final against England. Since then, his profile has only grown, with multiple endorsements coming his way. While his success has been celebrated, Doull expressed concern about the kind of people surrounding the young batter at such a crucial stage of his career.

“It is a word of caution. He already is a bit of a superstar. If things carry on, we all hope he will continue to be a superstar, an Indian superstar, in white-ball cricket in particular. It's the people you surround yourself with. He would have had every management company looking for him and trying to find deals for him,” Doull said on Cricbuzz.

Doull stressed that those managing Sooryavanshi must prioritise his long-term growth rather than financial gains. He pointed out that many management companies tend to focus more on their own profits instead of safeguarding a young player’s career.

“Management companies and management people are there to look after you. Too many of them only think about looking out for themselves. How much can I make of this young man? How much can my company make of this young man? That's the biggest issue I have with management companies worldwide,” he added.

On the field, Sooryavanshi has backed up the hype with remarkable performances. He has already struck two half-centuries in IPL 2026, both coming at a breathtaking pace of just 15 balls. This follows his record-breaking century last season, when he smashed the fastest hundred by an Indian in the tournament, reaching the milestone in just 35 balls against the Gujarat Titans.

His first setback this season came on Monday, when he was dismissed for a golden duck by Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer Praful Hinge. Despite that blip, his overall impact remains immense.

Doull reiterated that the teenager must be cautious about external influences and ensure he is surrounded by people who genuinely care about his development.

“They all worry about what they can make, not how well I should be looking out for this young man? How much should I be looking out for his career? And not making him do much at this point. The longevity should be there. If you stop performing, they would go be chasing the next bloke because that's what managers do,” said Doull.

“Just be careful who you surround yourself with. If he's got a good family and upbringing, he would be okay. But just watch out for the sharks,” he added.

Rajasthan Royals suffered their first defeat of the season on Monday, going down to Sunrisers Hyderabad after winning four consecutive matches. Batting first, Sunrisers Hyderabad posted a formidable 216/6, with captain Ishan Kishan leading the charge with a brilliant 91. In response, Rajasthan Royals were bundled out for 159.

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Debutant pacer Praful Hinge made an immediate impact, picking up three wickets in his very first over, including the prized scalp of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for a golden duck. Rajasthan found themselves in deep trouble at 9/5 at one stage, before a fighting century partnership between Donovan Ferreira and Ravindra Jadeja helped them recover somewhat and reach 159.