Why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is yet to finalise a bat sponsor

Not getting the valuation they are seeking appears to be the primary reason behind Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s delay in finalising a bat sponsorship deal, sources told CricBlogger.

After several tyre companies initially expressed interest and were even willing to offer what insiders described as a “blank cheque,” potential sponsors have now begun reassessing the financial viability of such a high-value endorsement. Negotiations are ongoing, and a new sponsor is expected to appear on the child prodigy’s bat soon.

Sources said Sooryavanshi’s camp is seeking a deal worth at least ₹12 crore, while interested tyre company sponsors are reluctant to go beyond ₹6 crore per year — roughly 50 per cent below the asking price. Even if the final agreement is struck at ₹6 crore annually, it would still represent a 12-fold increase from the ₹50 lakh-per-year deal he previously earned from his bat sponsor.

As a result, both sides are currently evaluating the commercial terms, which has led to the delay in finalising the agreement. “Also, Sooryavanshi should be seen earning more than the current stars right away,” the source said. However, no one from Sooryavanshi’s camp was willing to comment on the matter or reveal their side of the story.

Earlier, Sooryavanshi was earning around ₹50 lakh per year from one of the bat manufacturers. The company is understood to be keen on retaining him, although how much it can realistically afford to offer remains uncertain.

For now, Sooryavanshi has been seen playing without a bat sticker during the Ireland series, but he is expected to have a new sponsor in place before the England series.

With Sooryavanshi yet to make his international debut, all eyes will be on the team management to see whether captain Shreyas Iyer and head coach Gautam Gambhir are willing to hand the teenage sensation a place in the playing XI for the must-win second T20I against Ireland. India will be desperate to restore some pride after suffering a 34-run defeat in the series opener on Friday.