Vaibhav Sooryavanshi of Rajasthan Royals (ANI Photo) Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s meteoric rise in the Indian Premier League 2026 season has made him one of the most talked about young cricketers in the country. The 15-year-old from Samastipur, Bihar has been in sensational form and his rising stardom has also brought increased attention off the pitch. However, amid the hype and endorsement deals, former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull issued an early warning. Sooryavanshi first attracted widespread attention with his explosive knock in the U-19 World Cup final against England. Since then, his profile has only grown and many endorsements have come his way. While his success was celebrated, Doull expressed concern about the kind of people surrounding the young batsman at such a crucial stage in his career. “It’s a word of caution. He’s already a bit of a superstar. If it goes on, we all hope he continues to be a superstar, an Indian superstar, especially in white-ball cricket. It’s the people you surround yourself with. Any management company would be looking for him and trying to find offers for him,” Doull said on Cricbuzz. Doull emphasized that those running Sooryavanshi must prioritize its long-term growth over financial gains. He pointed out that many management companies tend to focus more on their own profits rather than protecting a young player’s career. “Management companies and management people are there to take care of you. Too many of them only think about taking care of themselves. How much can I make on this young man? How much can my company make on this young man? That’s the biggest problem I have with management companies around the world,” he added. On the field, Sooryavanshi backed up the hype with remarkable performances. He has already hit two half-centuries in IPL 2026, both of which came at the breathtaking pace of just 15 balls. This follows his record-breaking century last season when he smashed the fastest Indian hundred in the tournament, reaching the milestone in just 35 balls against Gujarat Titans. His first setback of the season came on Monday when he was dismissed for a golden duck by Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer Praful Hinge. Despite this fluctuation, its overall impact remains enormous. Doull reiterated that a teenager needs to be wary of outside influences and make sure he is surrounded by people who really care about his development. “Everybody’s worried about what they can make, not how well should I look after this young man? How much should I look out for his career? And don’t push him to do a lot at this point. There should be longevity. If you stop performing, they’ll chase the next guy because that’s what managers do,” Doull said. “Just be careful who you surround yourself with. If he has a good family and upbringing, he would be fine. But watch out for sharks,” he added.Rajasthan Royals suffered their first defeat of the season on Monday, going down to Sunrisers Hyderabad after winning four consecutive matches. Sunrisers Hyderabad batted first to an impressive 216/6 with skipper Ishan Kishan leading the way with a brilliant 91. In reply, Rajasthan Royals were bowled out for 159. Debutant pacer Praful Hinge made an immediate impact, taking three wickets in his very first over, including the prized scalp of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for a golden duck. Rajasthan were in deep trouble at 9/5 at one stage before a struggling century partnership between Donovan Ferreira and Ravindra Jadeja helped them recover a bit to reach 159.
