Sachin Tendulkar Advocates Patience for Young Cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Tendulkar's Insights on Sooryavanshi's Early Leadership Role
In a recent Reddit 'Ask Me Anything' session, cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar expressed his belief that 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should be allowed more time to gain experience in red-ball cricket before taking on leadership roles. He commented on Sooryavanshi's appointment as vice-captain of the East Zone for the upcoming 2026 Duleep Trophy, suggesting that it may have come too soon.
Tendulkar addressed various topics during the session, including Sooryavanshi's rapid ascent in the cricketing world, the influence of his older brother Ajit on his career, and his personal choice to avoid endorsing pan masala and gambling advertisements.
When asked about Sooryavanshi's captaincy at such a young age, Tendulkar remarked, "I think it’s premature for him to take on the vice-captaincy in the Duleep Trophy. He needs to play more matches with the red ball and progress gradually!"
Sooryavanshi was appointed as vice-captain of the East Zone team, which is led by Ishan Kishan. This decision raised eyebrows since the young player had only participated in a few first-class matches for Bihar, stepping into a leadership role ahead of seasoned players like Abhimanyu Easwaran, Mohammed Shami, and Mukesh Kumar.
Despite the initial concerns, the East Zone team triumphed in the tournament, with Sooryavanshi stepping up as captain during the semi-final after Kishan sustained a finger injury.
Although the teenager has garnered significant attention for his performances in shorter formats, Tendulkar emphasized the necessity of allowing him time to refine his skills in red-ball cricket.
The 53-year-old also highlighted the pivotal role his brother Ajit played in his cricketing journey, recalling how Ajit supported him during the formative years of his career.
Reflecting on a lesser-known aspect of his journey, Tendulkar shared how he and Ajit nurtured a shared dream of his success. "Whenever I was batting, he would sometimes take long drives to avoid match updates, which was his way of managing the pressure," he explained.
Ajit introduced Tendulkar to cricket in 1984 and facilitated his training with coach Ramakant Achrekar at Shivaji Park in Mumbai. He also ensured that Tendulkar had a second chance to impress Achrekar after feeling nervous during their first encounter.
Tendulkar also disclosed that a promise made to his father, Ramesh Tendulkar, influenced his decision to refrain from endorsing pan masala or gambling-related products. When questioned about his stance on such promotions, he stated, "It’s a promise I made to my father."
Regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in cricket history, Tendulkar's international career spanned from 1989 to 2013. He holds the record for the most international centuries, with 100 to his name, including 51 in Tests and 49 in ODIs. He concluded his career with 15,921 runs in Tests and 18,426 runs in ODIs, contributing to India's victory in the 2011 World Cup. Tendulkar was also the first player to participate in 200 Test matches before retiring from international cricket in November 2013.