Former Australia captain and India head coach Greg Chappell has warned against placing excessive expectations and media scrutiny on 14-year-old IPL sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi.
At 14 years and 23 days, Rajasthan Royals' Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the youngest player in IPL history when he debuted against Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025. He announced his arrival in style, hitting a six off Shardul Thakur on his very first ball and scoring 34 off 20 deliveries. Just two innings later, the teenager made history again by smashing a 35-ball century – setting records as the youngest T20 centurion ever and registering the second-fastest hundred in IPL history.
Chappell, writing for ESPNcricinfo, heaped lavish praise on Suryavanshi for his explosive start but cautioned that early success "can come at a cost".
"To see a teenager wield a bat with the authority of a man twice his age, in front of tens of thousands, and millions more watching on television, was to witness the magic of sport. But this magic can come at a cost," Chappell wrote.
"At 14, Suryavanshi is still a child - physiologically, neurologically, emotionally. His brain is still wiring itself, his values still forming, his identity still fragile. In that context, such acclaim, such expectation, such public adulation, can become a double-edged sword.
"Child prodigies are a double narrative. On one hand, they dazzle and uplift, giving fans hope and a sense of wonder. On the other, they often carry burdens they are not yet equipped to shoulder. History across sports offers numerous lessons."
470 runs in 10 innings.
— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) May 2, 2025
Jos Buttler is stamping his authority with the bat this IPL season 👏#JosButtler #IPL2025 pic.twitter.com/qH9RaKekrA
Chappell: It is incumbent on the cricketing ecosystem to protect him
Days after the euphoria of his record-breaking century, Suryavanshi experienced cricket’s harsh realities – dismissed for a second-ball duck in Rajasthan Royals’ 100-run defeat to Mumbai Indians on May 1.
In his column, Chappell urged all stakeholders in cricket – fans, media, and administrators – to avoid extreme reactions when analysing the teenager’s performances. He emphasised the need to "protect him" from undue pressure and extreme reactions, whether criticism or excessive hype. He cited the contrasting careers of Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli to underscore his point.
"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.
"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 a buffer. It must be guided, not glorified; nurtured, not just marketed.
Also read: Explained: Why there is confusion around the age of Vaibhav Suryavanshi
"The world will now demand repeat performances. Commentators will analyse his technique frame by frame. Advertisers will come calling. Social media will canonise or crucify him with equal vigour. And yet, all he might want is to go home, play a video game, or have an ice cream with friends. We must allow him that. We must allow him to be a teenager.
"Suryavanshi has the tools. He has the temperament. But most importantly, he needs time. Let us celebrate him, yes, but also protect him. Let us not confuse early genius with invincibility. The boy has already played like a man. Now it is time for the men around him to ensure the boy within remains whole," Chappell stated.
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