NEW DELHI: Young batting prospect Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is continuing to turn heads in the IPL with a fearless brand of cricket, and the buzz around him has reached even seasoned international voices. Kieron Pollard, speaking before a match, said he has been impressed by the youngster’s impact, while also cautioning that the hype cycle can be fickle.
Pollard acknowledged how exciting it is to see a teenager make such a mark so early. “At 15 years old, I was still at school, playing club cricket. So yes, it’s exciting to see someone at this stage take the world by storm. He’s clearly using his youthful energy to his advantage, and I hope that continues—both for him and for Indian cricket as a whole,” Pollard told reporters.
The West Indies great then underlined the need to keep expectations grounded. He warned that the public mood can shift quickly, and that players can be overlooked once they face a lean patch. Pollard pointed to how fans and teams often get swept up in momentum, only to move on fast when results dip. “We keep producing talent, and we should keep encouraging him. One of the things I always say is: don’t jump on the bandwagon while he’s here. If he goes through a couple of failures and people start figuring him out, then teams may cut him off and we forget about him. For me, as a player, that’s the biggest worry—everyone chasing the hype,” he said.
Despite the caution, Pollard made it clear he believes Sooryavanshi is a genuine talent. “He is a talent and he’s doing well. Long may that continue for him,” Pollard added.
Pollard also spoke about why experience matters in T20 cricket, especially as established names like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli continue to perform at the highest level. He urged supporters to show respect to senior players and trust them to decide when to step away from the game. “Everyone has different motivations for playing for a long time. Dhoni is still playing at 44. Fortunately, I’m still playing around the world at 39,” he remarked.
He further noted that fans sometimes focus too narrowly on age rather than impact and contribution. Pollard argued that the right approach is to honour veterans and let them determine the timing of their own exits. “We tend to look at age, but I believe we should keep honouring these guys and allow them to decide when it’s time,” he said.
