IPL: Former India coach says 'don’t rush Sooryavanshi’s India debut'

MUMBAI: Bihar’s ‘boy wonder’ Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has lit up IPL-2026 with his fearless strokeplay for Rajasthan Royals. However, leg-spin great Anil Kumble believes the though the 15-year-old is firmly on the radar of selectors, he should not be rushed into the team so early on in his career. Kumble, a former India captain and head coach, compared the excitement around Vaibhav to the early days of Sachin Tendulkar, noting that both showed extraordinary promise as teenagers.

However, Kumble said every player’s journey is unique and that placing expectations too early could burden the youngster. Kumble said he had little doubt that Sooryavanshi would represent India “sooner rather than later”.

“Sachin Tendulkar, every time he walked out as a 14-or 15-year-old, he was scoring hundreds. From what we’ve seen, Vaibhav is certainly doing all the right things. But at this point, it’s a lot of pressure on a young lad to say, ‘we want you to play for India in two months’ time.’ It may happen, it may not but he has time on his side. Even 10 years later, he’ll only be 25, and that’s the best part about someone doing so well at 15,” Kumble said at a Barclays event at the Cricket Club of India on Friday.

Kumble added that Sooryavanshi could make his India debut “this year, next year, or a couple of years later” and that selectors will be monitoring him closely.

“I’m sure there will be a time when he will play for India. Whether it’s fast-tracked or not, every player has his own journey. Some start at 15, some at 28 but they all have a role to play. For Vaibhav, it could be this year, next year or a couple of years later. But the way he is batting, he will certainly be someone the selectors will be watching closely,” Kumble said. Sooryavanshi was also recently in the news for skipping his Class X board exams to prepare for the IPL. Kumble acknowledged the challenge of balancing academics with elite-level sport for prodigious talents.

“That is the biggest challenge. If a 15-year-old is smashing every bowler in the world, it’s very difficult to ask him to go to university and study before selecting him. That’s the reality,” the former Indian captain said.

Kumble also said that inter-university and inter-school cricket may no longer be relevant pathways. “I didn’t play for a university, though I was part of the system. Interuniversity cricket was once significant but I don’t see it returning,” he added.