Former Australia captain Greg Chappell suggested the BCCI to handle the case of Vaibhav Suryavanshi with care. After the Rajasthan Royals batter hit 101(38) against Gujarat Titans, he followed it up with a two-ball duck against Mumbai Indians. The former Indian coach compared Suryavanshi to Sachin Tendulkar, who also burst on to the scene as a teenager and conquered world cricket without wasting much time.
Chappell felt Tendulkar succeeded not just because of his talent, but also due to the support he got from everyone.
“Sachin Tendulkar succeeded as a teenager not simply due to talent but because of a solid support system – a stoic temperament, a wise coach, a family that protected him from the circus,” Chappell wrote.
As a flip side to the coin, Chappell claimed that other talented players like Vinod Kambli and Prithvi Shaw could not justify their talent due to a lack of discipline. While he believed Shaw would find his way back to the pinnacle, he felt the need for the BCCI to handle such talents with care.
“On the other hand, Vinod Kambli, equally talented and perhaps more flamboyant, struggled to balance fame and discipline. His fall was as dramatic as his rise. Prithvi Shaw is another wunderkind who has fallen but may yet find a way back to the pinnacle,” Chappell added.
He felt it was a responsibility of the franchises, mentors, the BCCI, and the media to protect players like Shaw and Vaibhav.
“It is incumbent on the cricketing ecosystem, the BCCI, the franchises, mentors, and the media to protect him. Talent can’t be bubble-wrapped but can be provided with a buffer,” Chappell wrote.
The Australian concluded by writing that the BCCI had to employ licensed child psychologists to take care of younger players.
“There are a few things that the game must do to protect rising talent. Licensed child psychologists should be part of every elite youth programme. The emotional volatility of adolescence demands specialised care,” Chappell added.
While Suryavanshi is playing for RR, Shaw is not featuring in any team in the IPL 2025.
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