BCCI’s big plan for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: ‘Serve like Sachin Tendulkar, not be a one-year wonder’

NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is adopting a long-term perspective on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's remarkable ascent, as revealed by secretary Devajit Saikia during a high-level BCCI review meeting in Mumbai. The 15-year-old's rapid rise has caught the board's attention, with Sooryavanshi becoming India's youngest men's international debutant after an impressive IPL 2026 season.

Saikia emphasized that the BCCI is closely monitoring Sooryavanshi's progress to ensure his early success translates into a sustained, distinguished international career, rather than a one-series or one-year wonder. Comparing Sooryavanshi to Sachin Tendulkar, Saikia expressed the BCCI's desire for the young prodigy to serve the nation like the cricket legend, with the board closely tracking his every move to foster a long-lasting career.

Sooryavanshi's IPL campaign with Rajasthan Royals saw him score 776 runs in 16 matches, including a century and five fifties, while setting an IPL record for sixes in a season. He also made an immediate impact for India against Zimbabwe, scoring 151 runs in three matches and earning Player of the Series accolade. The BCCI's focus extends beyond Sooryavanshi, as Saikia disclosed that the board is monitoring a pool of around 10-15 emerging players through the Centre of Excellence (CoE), led by VVS Laxman.

This approach aims to nurture and develop talented youngsters without rushing them into senior international cricket, ensuring their solid foundation and sustained success.