Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s extraordinary IPL 2026 run has sparked fresh debate about whether the Rajasthan Royals prodigy should be moved into India’s senior ranks faster than usual. Even with the hype rising, batting icon Sachin Tendulkar believes the best path is still to let the teenager grow at his own pace—developing through experience rather than being rushed into new pressures. Tendulkar, who received the “Greatest Men’s International Batter of the 21st Century” recognition at the Cricinfo Honours Awards 2026, was asked directly about Sooryavanshi’s next steps and whether the young batter could eventually become an all-format option for India.
Tendulkar backs natural progression over a rushed switch
Speaking on Sooryavanshi’s future, Tendulkar said the 15-year-old should stay true to himself, stressing that there is always a first time in cricket—especially when players learn to handle Test cricket’s unique demands. He suggested that, as time and age move forward, the teenager will pick up how to manage different challenges, while also sharpening a mindset that looks for solutions rather than getting stuck in moments.
“I would tell Vaibhav just to be himself. There is always a first time. In Test cricket, along with time and age, he will learn how to deal with various challenges, while having a solution-oriented mindset,” Tendulkar said, highlighting the importance of a calm, problem-solving approach.
Every batter faces questions—answers define success
Tendulkar also framed cricket as a continuous cycle of questions presented by bowlers, with the batter’s job being to find answers ball after ball. He underlined that difficulties do not disappear, even for the best players, and that success depends on how a batter responds when those problems keep coming.
“Problems are always going to be there, till the last day of your career, till the last ball you face. The bowler is asking you a question with every ball. Now, what solutions do you find?” Tendulkar added.
Protecting Sooryavanshi’s confidence and instincts
While acknowledging the excitement around the youngster, Tendulkar cautioned against interfering with Sooryavanshi’s natural style. He pointed out that the teenager already appears extremely confident about what he wants to do, and that his view of the ball and his reaction to it are key parts of his effectiveness.
“He is the kind of player who looks very confident and very sure of what he wants to do. I wouldn’t want to interfere with his natural instincts because the way he sees the ball and the way he responds to it are important,” Tendulkar said.
He further explained that disrupting that confidence could create a new challenge for the youngster, which is why the most sensible approach is to allow him to keep batting in the way that has brought him success.
“If that signal is interrupted, it will be a real challenge. I would give him the freedom to go out and bat the way he does.”
A season of historic numbers for Rajasthan Royals
Tendulkar’s comments arrive after a remarkable IPL season in which Sooryavanshi produced achievements not previously seen in the tournament. The Rajasthan Royals batter became the first player in IPL history to collect five major individual awards in a single campaign. He won the Orange Cap, the Most Valuable Player award, Emerging Player of the Season, Super Striker of the Season, and Super Sixes of the Season.
His run tally was just as breathtaking. Sooryavanshi finished as the leading scorer in the tournament with 776 runs, striking at 237.30, and he hammered a record 72 sixes. He also broke Chris Gayle’s long-standing mark of 59 maximums in a season. On top of that, he became the first uncapped batsman in IPL history to score two centuries in the same campaign.
Several of his innings stood out even more. In the Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad, he struck a half-century off just 16 balls—matching the fastest fifty ever in an IPL playoff. Earlier in the season, he powered to a century off 36 deliveries against the same opposition. He also reached 1,000 IPL runs at a young age, becoming both the youngest batter and the quickest by balls faced to hit the milestone.
Encouragement, not extra pressure
With the spotlight now turning even more sharply toward his future, Tendulkar urged fans to focus on encouragement rather than piling on pressure. He said that many people would want Sooryavanshi to play Test cricket at some point, but he stressed that the timing should not be forced.
“Not just me, everyone would want to see him playing Test cricket at some stage. I don’t know when that is going to happen, but an exciting talent needs encouragement,” Tendulkar said.
He added that supporters should enjoy watching the teenager grow and thrive, instead of constantly debating when he should make the next jump. If Sooryavanshi is performing well, the right response is to back him and support him.
“If he’s doing well, then we need to encourage and support him and, above all, enjoy watching him, rather than constantly putting pressure on him.”
Selection calls should stay with the team management
Tendulkar also made it clear that the decisions around India squads—whether Sooryavanshi should be included and in which set-up—must be left to those responsible for team-building and selection. He emphasized that questions about playing, not playing, or squad placement belong with the people who hold those roles.
“And leave the decisions of whether he should play, whether he shouldn’t be doing something, or whether he should be picked in a particular squad to the people who are responsible for making those decisions.”
Final message: let the youngster be himself
For now, Tendulkar’s guidance is straightforward: let Sooryavanshi continue being himself. The runs, records, and opportunities may keep arriving as a natural result of the form he has shown, but safeguarding the fearless approach that has made him such a standout talent remains the most important priority.
