Sachin Tendulkar Urges Patience for Young Cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Tendulkar's Advice on Young Talent
Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar has expressed that 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should be allowed more time to develop his skills in red-ball cricket before taking on leadership roles. He commented that Sooryavanshi's recent selection as the East Zone vice-captain for the 2026 Duleep Trophy was premature. Tendulkar shared these insights during a Reddit 'Ask Me Anything' session, where he addressed various topics, including Sooryavanshi's ascent in cricket, the influence of his older brother Ajit, and his choice to avoid endorsing pan masala and gambling ads.
When asked about Sooryavanshi's captaincy at such a young age, Tendulkar remarked, "I believe it’s too soon for him to assume the vice-captaincy in the Duleep Trophy. He needs to play more matches with the red ball and progress gradually!" Sooryavanshi was appointed vice-captain of the East Zone team, led by Ishan Kishan. This decision raised eyebrows as 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. The East Zone ultimately triumphed in the tournament, with Sooryavanshi stepping in as captain for the semi-final after Kishan sustained a finger injury. Despite his impressive performances in shorter formats, Tendulkar emphasized the need for Sooryavanshi to refine his red-ball skills.
Family Influence and Personal Values
Tendulkar, now 53, also reflected on the significant role his elder brother Ajit played in his cricketing journey. He shared a lesser-known aspect of his life that he cherishes, highlighting how both he and Ajit dreamed of his success. "My brother Ajit and I shared this dream in a very unique way. Whenever I was batting, he would sometimes take long drives to avoid match updates, which was his way of managing the pressure," the Master Blaster recounted. Ajit introduced Sachin to cricket in 1984 and facilitated his training with coach Ramakant Achrekar at Shivaji Park in Mumbai, ensuring that Sachin had a second chance to impress Achrekar after feeling nervous during their first meeting.
Additionally, Tendulkar revealed that a promise made to his father, Ramesh Tendulkar, motivated his decision to refrain from endorsing pan masala or gambling-related products. When questioned about why he is one of the few prominent cricketers to avoid such promotions, he stated, "It’s a promise I made to my father." Widely acknowledged 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 and becoming the first player to participate in 200 Test matches before retiring in November 2013.