‘Don’t expect the world from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’: Sourav Ganguly urges patience with 15-year-old prodigy

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Sourav Ganguly NEW DELHI: As Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stands on the verge of becoming the youngest player to represent India, former captain Sourav Ganguly has issued an impassioned appeal for patience, urging fans and pundits not to burden the teenage sensation with unrealistic expectations.The 15-year-old batting prodigy, who lit up the IPL 2026 with a record-breaking campaign, earned his first India call-up for the T20I tour of Ireland and England and the Asian Games in Japan.However, Ganguly feels that the youngster must be given time to adjust to the challenges of international cricket. “I think we should leave him alone, he is only 15 years old and I don’t think he will bother too much with the pressure and that is what we can see him in the IPL,” Ganguly told PTI.The former India captain acknowledged that the conditions that await Sooryavanshi overseas will be vastly different from what he experienced during the IPL.“Obviously playing for India is different and he will be doing a gig where the wickets will be a little bit different,” Ganguly said.“With the new ball it will come together and there will be a bit more bounce and a bit more movement so the game is a bit different, but I think he’s got massive talent,” he added.Ganguly then made a dramatic appeal, asking everyone around Indian cricket to give the youngster room to grow.“…so leave him alone, don’t expect the world from him right away. Just allow him to settle down because you know he has a lot of talent like many others in India,” Ganguly said.

In a move aimed at easing the teenager’s access to the senior environment, the BCCI has decided to allow Sooryavanshi’s parents to accompany him on the tour of Ireland and England, with all expenses borne by the board.BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the decision was taken to ensure the youngster remains comfortable as he steps into an unfamiliar environment.“As he is a child, we have decided to allow his parents to accompany him to Ireland and England to be with him and help him settle into his new environment. The board will cover all their expenses,” Saikia told Sportstar.Saikia revealed that Sooryavanshi’s father, Sanjeev, has already traveled to Sri Lanka to be with his son, who is currently with the India A side in Dambulla.The BCCI secretary stressed that the board has a responsibility to ensure that the 15-year-old does not feel isolated in the senior dressing room.“It’s because otherwise he always traveled with his under-19 team, junior boys or junior boys. It meant he was in his comfort zone. But now he’s going to be in the adult world and we want to make him comfortable because he’s a 15-year-old boy,” Saikia said.

Sooryavanshi’s output was extraordinary. Fresh from helping India win the Under-19 World Cup, the Rajasthan Royals batsman dominated IPL 2026 scoring 776 runs to win the Orange Cap.He has also won several awards including Rookie Award, Most Valuable Player Award, Best Striker and the record for most sixes in a single IPL season.Chief selector Ajit Agarkar summed up the teenager’s rise perfectly.“We have high hopes for him and I think he’s really picked himself,” Agarkar said.For now, however, Ganguly’s message remains clear: India may have found a generational talent, but the biggest challenge will be resisting the temptation to expect overnight greatness.