Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s rapid emergence at just 15 has prompted two former India players to look beyond his immediate performances and focus on how Indian cricket manages one of its most highly rated young batters. Robin Uthappa believes Sooryavanshi has the potential to make an even greater impact on white-ball cricket than Sachin Tendulkar, while Ajinkya Rahane has identified family support and discipline as critical to his long-term development.
Sooryavanshi’s rise has already taken him from a record-breaking IPL campaign into international cricket. After scoring 776 runs to become the youngest Orange Cap winner in IPL 2026, the left-hander endured a difficult start in England before responding with 151 runs across three T20Is against Zimbabwe, earning Player of the Match in the final game and Player of the Series.
Uthappa sees extraordinary white-ball potential
The scale of Sooryavanshi’s early achievements has inevitably created expectations about what his career could become. Former India Batter Robin Uthappa said on CommBoxTV, “Could he have an impact on white-ball cricket a lot more than paaji (Tendulkar)? Yeah, maybe he could. But how he’s managed is going to be important.”
Rather than treating early success as a guarantee of longevity, Uthappa pointed towards previous Indian talents whose trajectories changed after enormous expectations were placed on them as teenagers. He said, “We’ve seen exciting players come through the ranks in Indian cricket before. We saw Vinod Kambli and Prithvi Shaw, and people started asking what they would become when they were 17-18 years old. What are they going to become? And then suddenly they fall off the wagon.”
Sooryavanshi has already faced contrasting experiences during the opening stages of his international career. His struggles in England were followed by a productive Zimbabwe series, giving him two half-centuries across his first six international innings.
Early fame creates a different challenge
For Uthappa, the next phase of Sooryavanshi’s development will involve managing pressures that extend beyond his performances on the field. His emergence at such a young age has brought attention and commercial opportunities at a point when his career is still developing.
Uthappa noted, “That will be Vaibhav’s first test, so to speak. Can he stay pristine for the game over a period of five years? He’s 15 now, so can he stay pristine till he’s 20? There are enough people to take care of him, and he should focus on the game itself. When we listen to everything that he says, there’s so much innocence in who he is. I love the fact that he’s saying no to every advertisement and every deal that is coming his way, and he’s focusing only on cricket. He is being perceived as a child. When he’s 18, he’ll start being perceived as a man, and the female attention will come. That can distract people as well.”
The teenager has already been given additional support around his introduction to international cricket, becoming the first India men’s player to be accompanied by his family on an international tour. With his profile growing alongside his performances, the people around him will have an increasingly important role during the transition from teenage prospect to established international player.
Support system could shape Sooryavanshi’s development
Uthappa also expects setbacks to form part of Sooryavanshi’s development rather than viewing his early rise as a trajectory that will continue uninterrupted. He said, “There will be trials and tribulations in his career, and how he overcomes those will be key. I only hope he has the right support system and mentors to protect him from the world and allow him to live in a bubble until he is ready to explore the outside world.”
The former India batter added, “His career is not going to be pristine as much as we want it to be. There are going to be ups and downs as part of the journey,”
That long-term approach carries additional significance with major white-ball events ahead, including the Asian Games and the 2028 Olympics. Sooryavanshi’s development over the coming seasons will take place alongside increasing attention on his potential role in India’s future white-ball plans.
Rahane puts family guidance at centre of development
Rahane has similarly focused on the environment surrounding Sooryavanshi rather than attempting to project what the teenager will achieve. The former India Captain has previously urged patience over pushing the 15-year-old towards Test cricket, arguing that international cricket presents different demands from the IPL.
Speaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast, former India Captain Ajinkya Rahane said, “What he needs at the moment is the right guidance. Where would that come from? The first thing is that family is really important. The family needs to understand what is important to him. These days, you see a lot of planning, fame, travel, and many people around you. Family needs to be strong, tell him what is important, and then, in the next five years, 10 years down the line, keep him disciplined.”
Sooryavanshi’s first two international series have already delivered both difficult periods and significant performances, while his IPL record has accelerated expectations around his future. With Uthappa identifying management and mentorship as critical and Rahane placing responsibility on the support structure around him, the focus now extends beyond how quickly the 15-year-old can progress to how sustainably his development can be managed.
