Former India coach Greg Chappell has issued a serious warning to the BCCI regarding the teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who is currently playing for the Rajasthan Royals in the ongoing IPL 2025.
At just 14 years old, Vaibhav Suryavanshi is already making headlines, but Greg Chappell fears this batting sensation’s story could go either way.
The left-handed batter has taken the cricket world by storm with his explosive batting, smashing a stunning 35-ball century in his debut IPL season, which is the second-fastest in the tournament’s history. Well, Chappell’s concern comes from India’s mixed past with young prodigies.
Handle Vaibhav Suryavanshi with care, not hype: Greg Chappell to BCCI
On one hand, there was Sachin Tendulkar, who went on to become a cricket legend. But on the other hand, names like Vinod Kambli and Prithvi Shaw showed early brilliance but couldn’t maintain their rise. Kambli, who started his journey alongside Tendulkar, failed to do justice to his talent.
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On the other hand, Prithvi Shaw, who was once hailed as the next big thing after leading India to the U-19 World Cup title in 2018 and scoring a debut Test century, is now out of the senior team and even went unsold at the IPL 2025 mega auction. The reasons behind their fall were the controversies, fitness issues, and discipline problems.
Greg Chappell urges BCCI not to don’t Let Vaibhav Suryavanshi become another Prithvi Shaw
Now, Vaibhav Suryavanshi shocked the cricketing world and proved that age doesn’t matter when talent shines. But at the same time, the fact is that with great talent comes great responsibility, and Greg Chappell believes that how BCCI manages the left-handed batter now will decide whether he becomes another Sachin Tendulkar or ends up like Vinod Kambli or Prithvi Shaw. Chappell has urged Indian cricket’s decision-makers to handle Vaibhav’s rise carefully.
Greg Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNCricinfo: “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.
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.”
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‘Vaibhav Suryavanshi must be nurtured, not just marketed’
The legendary Australian cricketer stressed the need to guide young talent with care, saying that it’s not about doubting their skills but making sure they are nurtured the right way. Chappell further noted, “These stories don’t question the ability of youth, but they challenge the wisdom of how that ability is nurtured—or exploited.”
The former Indian head coach urged the BCCI, IPL franchises, and media to focus on guiding Suryavanshi’s talent instead of using him for marketing. He stressed that young players like Vaibhav need protection, support, and proper mentoring to grow into long-term stars.
Chappell signed off by saying, “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 it can be provided with a buffer. It must be guided, not glorified; nurtured, not just marketed.”