Vaibhav Suryavanshi needs to be protected: Greg Chappell's warns BCCI

Former Australia cricketer and ex-India head coach Greg Chappell has issued a stern warning to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), urging them to protect and nurture Rajasthan Royals' 14-year-old wonderboy, Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Chappell emphasised the importance of providing the youngster with a secure and supportive environment to help him reach his full potential. Suryavanshi has been at the centre of every cricketing conversation following his record-breaking century against Gujarat Titans. While the feat has drawn widespread attention, concerns have also emerged over how best to polish such rare talent without the spotlight hampering his growth.

The hundred against GT saw Suryavanshi shatter multiple records — his 35-ball century was the second-fastest in IPL history, and he became the youngest player ever to score a T20 ton. However, in his very next match, the 14-year-old was dismissed for a two-ball duck. Rajasthan Royals head coach Rahul Dravid had already cautioned fans and pundits against creating excessive hype around Suryavanshi, urging them to allow the youngster to grow without the weight of early expectations.

Echoing Dravid’s sentiments in his column for ESPNcricinfo, Chappell highlighted the risks of overhyping young cricketers. He pointed to the cases of former India cricketer Vinod Kambli and 2018 U19 World Cup-winning captain Prithvi Shaw — both of whom started with great promise but struggled to fully realise their potential under the



glare of public and media scrutiny.

“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. There are a few things that the game must do to protect rising talent. Licenced child psychologists should be part of every elite youth programme. The emotional volatility of adolescence demands specialised care," Chappell wrote.

“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," he added.

Suryavanshi was picked up by RR for Rs 1.1 crores during the IPL mega-auction and was handed his debut in the 2025 season as an injury replacement for skipper Sanju Samson. His journey had been smooth until the recent duck against MI’s Deepak Chahar.

Whether the 14-year-old goes on to fulfil his immense promise or becomes yet another "could-have-been" in Indian cricket remains to be seen. But with figures like Dravid and Chappell raising the alarm, the message to Indian cricket's decision-makers is clear — tread carefully.