Former Coach Questions Playing Vaibhav Suryavanshi in U19 World Cup: “Could Hamper Long-Term Development”

Bulawayo: Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been in sensational form across all formats of cricket, but a prominent former coach has raised concerns about the 14-year-old playing at the Under-19 level. Former India women’s team coach WV Raman cautioned that exposing such young talent too early could be detrimental to long-term development.

Raman’s comments came on the same day India began their U19 World Cup campaign with a six-wicket victory over the USA at the Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, using the DLS method.

Suryavanshi in Red-Hot Form
Over the past year, Suryavanshi has been the talk of Indian cricket. After debuting for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL last season, he became the youngest player in the tournament’s history to score a century. He continued his impressive performances on tours of Australia, England, and South Africa, earning a place in the India A squad for the Rising Stars Asia Cup.

Despite being one of India’s key players in the U19 World Cup, Raman believes caution is needed given Suryavanshi’s rapid rise. In a social media post, Raman wrote: “This may be an unpopular opinion. Suryavanshi has performed exceptionally in the A series and IPL. Playing him at U19 level may be harmful to his development. There is no doubt he can win matches, but one must always consider the bigger picture.”

Struggles Against the USA
On the field, Suryavanshi’s tournament began slowly. Against the USA, he faced only four deliveries before being dismissed for 2 runs after attempting a leg-side shot that dislodged the stumps. This came after his 96-run knock off 50 balls against Scotland in India’s warm-up match, highlighting his current form.

India still secured a victory in the rain-affected match. Henil Patel starred with the ball, claiming five wickets as the USA were bowled out for 107 in 36 overs. Suryavanshi also contributed with the ball, taking the final wicket of Nitish Sudani.