In the wake of 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s explosive IPL debut, former India coach Greg Chappell has urged the BCCI, IPL franchises, and media to prioritize nurturing over marketing.
The teenage batting prodigy made headlines with a 35-ball century—the second-fastest in IPL history—cementing his place as the sport’s newest phenomenon.
But Chappell has warned that uncontrolled hype and commercial exploitation could derail Vaibhav’s career, much like what happened to former stars Vinod Kambli and Prithvi Shaw.
“Sachin Tendulkar succeeded not just because of talent, but due to a support system that shielded him from distractions,” Chappell wrote in his ESPNCricinfo column. “Kambli, despite being equally gifted, lacked that stability. Shaw showed early promise too but lost his way due to off-field issues and lack of discipline.”
Chappell stressed the importance of offering guidance rather than exposure alone. “Talent can’t be bubble-wrapped, but it can be buffered. It must be guided, not glorified; nurtured, not just marketed,” he said, calling on cricket stakeholders to ensure Vaibhav doesn’t become another cautionary tale.
The comparisons are stark. Tendulkar amassed over 34,000 international runs, while Kambli, despite his brilliant start with back-to-back double centuries, fizzled out after just 17 Tests and 104 ODIs, later battling health and addiction issues. Prithvi Shaw, once hailed as the next big thing after leading India to an U-19 World Cup win in 2018, now finds himself out of favor—even unsold in the latest IPL auction.
Chappell’s appeal comes at a time when the cricketing world is in awe of Vaibhav’s raw talent. But as history shows, natural ability alone isn’t enough—it must be nurtured with discipline, support, and patience.
He concluded with a message for all involved: “Don’t exploit Vaibhav. Invest in him. Protect him like Sachin, not market him into burnout.”
