Don’t give up on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after debut: Former cricketer sends a clear message to Team India

Former Indian footballer L Sivaramakrishnan believes 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should continue playing regularly instead of resting, saying consistent playing time will help the youngster learn, make mistakes and gain experience in different conditions.Sooryavanshi became India’s youngest international cricketer when he made his debut in the second T20I against England in Manchester on Saturday at the age of 15 years and 99 days.Sivaramakrishnan, who himself made his Test debut aged 17 against the West Indies in 1983, said India should continue to support the teenager after giving him his first opportunity.“He should get a fair amount of chances in white-ball cricket and see how he does. He should continue. I mean, there’s no point in bleeding a youngster and giving him a break or resting him. He doesn’t need rest. He can play properly throughout the year,” Sivaramakrishnan was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.“Especially as a batsman, he doesn’t need the fitness of a bowler. And batting for a long time will also give him that concentration, the mental work that he can do for a long time,” he added.Sooryavanshi scored 14 off 10 balls on his debut, including two sixes. Sivaramakrishnan said this should not change the team’s approach to him.“Once you decide to play him, you have to give him enough opportunities. Remember, it’s an investment for the next 20 years. I think what Vaibhav needs now is a lot of support from the coach (Gautam Gambhir) and captain (Shreyas Iyer) and the other players. Even if he doesn’t do well in a few matches, he should be supported.”According to Sivaramakrishnan, Sooryavanshi’s attacking style will naturally bring some setbacks, but that should not stop him from playing his game.“I would like to see him guided and supported properly. He is the type of batsman, there may be a few risks he takes. But modern cricket is all about taking risks. So he should not be told to limit his natural instincts and the way he approaches the game.”