Former West Indies batter Carlos Brathwaite has urged patience with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, insisting that the teenager’s rise should be handled with care rather than fast-tracked into the international arena. In his view, the young RR star has already shown enormous talent in the IPL, but that momentum should not be used as an excuse to overload him with pressure.
Brathwaite made the point after Sooryavanshi produced a sensational 37-ball 103 against Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rajasthan Royals, a knock that became his second IPL century. The century was constructed off just 36 deliveries, underlining how quickly he has adapted to elite T20 bowling and big-match intensity.
Brathwaite’s case: build, don’t rush
- Sooryavanshi struck a 37-ball century (103) for Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad.
- It was his second IPL hundred, made off 36 balls.
- Brathwaite says young players should be developed gradually rather than pushed straight into international cricket.
- He cited Brian Lara’s pathway, saying West Indies nurtured him alongside senior stars before international debut.
Speaking on ESPNCricinfo TimeOut, Brathwaite compared Sooryavanshi’s situation with the way Brian Lara was managed during Lara’s early rise. He suggested that West Indies had structured development for Lara, including time alongside established names, before moving him into the highest level of cricket.
“I apologize, Vaibhav, but if you look at how West Indies handled Brian Lara, he was a generational talent. Everyone knew that,” Brathwaite said, before adding that Lara was carefully placed with top players such as Viv Richards. Brathwaite stressed that Lara did not step into international cricket immediately, but instead sharpened his game through a different era’s tour matches and day-to-day learning with senior performers.
From that blueprint, Brathwaite argued that Sooryavanshi should be allowed to soak up lessons in the Indian system without the immediate weight of international duties. He envisioned a route where Sooryavanshi can learn from leading figures while still progressing step by step.
“So maybe there is a way to combine both worlds where he can be part of the Indian team, learn from players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Suryakumar Yadav,” Brathwaite said. He added that there are other young players near Sooryavanshi’s age who can also help him transition, rather than simply throwing him straight into the deep end.
Dasgupta backs caution: talent needs mental handling
Former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta echoed the call for measured development, highlighting that cricketing ability alone is not enough for sustained growth. While he said Sooryavanshi’s talent is undeniable, Dasgupta pointed to the importance of managing the youngster’s mental development as well.
Dasgupta acknowledged the argument that Sooryavanshi should be in the Indian setup, but insisted the situation has two sides. He underlined that the young batter needs both technical readiness and psychological strength to deal with the demands that come with bigger stages.
“Technically, he’s there—we’ve seen how he plays against top bowlers. So we know he can handle that side,” Dasgupta said. However, he warned that mental challenges will follow, and therefore the way he is handled—particularly the timing—must be done carefully.
Dasgupta also looked at Sooryavanshi’s progression from his debut IPL season to his second year. He suggested the first season could have seemed like a quick flash, especially when a player is still relatively unknown, but the second year is tougher because opponents develop clearer plans.
“The first year could have been a flash in the pan, an unknown player. But the second year is always tougher because bowlers have plans. We’ve seen what has happened in this second year,” Dasgupta said. He concluded that Sooryavanshi is a truly special talent.
Can IPL make him the league’s next face?
Despite the emphasis on patience, Brathwaite believes Sooryavanshi could soon become a defining presence in the league. He framed the IPL as a platform that can quickly turn exceptional youth into household names, especially when the performances arrive with such frequency and impact.
“This is what the IPL is all about. With a population of 1.8 billion people, a 15-year-old Sooryavanshi could very well be the face of the league next year,” Brathwaite said. He added that the potential is enormous and that viewers should simply enjoy what they are witnessing.
Sooryavanshi’s current numbers help explain the growing excitement around him. His IPL 2026 tally stands at 357 runs in seven matches, and he has posted a strike rate of 234.86, reflecting the kind of aggressive scoring that turns games in a matter of overs.
For a period, he held the Orange Cap, before Abhishek Sharma passed him. Even with that shift at the top of the run charts, Sooryavanshi’s form has continued to fuel the buzz surrounding his rapid ascent.
