Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s sudden rise in the IPL 2026 has made him one of the most talked-about young talents in Indian cricket. The 15-year-old from Samastipur, Bihar, has been producing eye-catching performances, and the buzz around him has only intensified off the field as well. Yet even as the excitement grows—with attention from sponsors and endorsements—former New Zealand quick Simon Doull has offered a cautionary note about the environment surrounding the youngster at this pivotal moment.
Sooryavanshi initially broke into the national conversation through his explosive innings in the Under-19 World Cup final against England. Since then, his profile has steadily climbed, drawing in multiple endorsement opportunities along the way. While his success has been celebrated, Doull said the key concern is the type of people his support system brings around him as his career takes shape. Speaking on Cricbuzz, Doull described it as a “word of caution”, emphasizing that Sooryavanshi is already operating at superstar level. “If things carry on, we all hope he will continue to be a superstar, an Indian superstar, particularly in white-ball cricket,” Doull said. He added that the real issue lies in “the people you surround yourself with”.
Doull highlighted that whenever a young player begins drawing major attention, management and business groups quickly try to secure opportunities and deals. He warned that the priorities of such groups are not always aligned with what benefits the player in the long run. “He would have had every management company looking for him and trying to find deals for him,” Doull said. He stressed that those guiding Sooryavanshi must focus on long-term development rather than short-term financial upside, noting that some management outfits tend to protect their own interests above a youngster’s cricketing path.
“Management companies and management people are there to look after you. Too many of them only think about looking out for themselves. How much can I make of this young man? How much can my company make of this young man? That’s the biggest issue I have with management companies worldwide,” Doull added. In his view, the primary job of support structures should be to safeguard a developing career instead of treating it like a quick commercial opportunity.
On the field, Sooryavanshi has backed up the hype with standout displays. In IPL 2026, he has already produced two half-centuries, and both arrived at a striking pace—each coming from just 15 balls. That form continues a trend from the previous season as well, when he struck a record-breaking century. Last year, he scored the fastest hundred by an Indian in the tournament, reaching the mark in 35 deliveries against Gujarat Titans.
However, his first setback of the current IPL season arrived on Monday. Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer Praful Hinge dismissed Sooryavanshi for a golden duck, ending his run in that match. Even with that interruption, Doull believes the teenager must remain mindful of outside influences and ensure that the people around him truly care about his development. Doull returned to his central point: some managers are more concerned with what they can gain than with what the player needs to grow.
“They all worry about what they can make, not how well I should be looking out for this young man? How much should I be looking out for his career? And not making him do much at this point. The longevity should be there. If you stop performing, they would go be chasing the next bloke because that’s what managers do,” Doull said. He then added a final warning about his circle, stating that a good family and proper upbringing can provide protection, but care is still needed. “Just be careful who you surround yourself with. If he’s got a good family and upbringing, he would be okay. But just watch out for the sharks,” Doull added.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals suffered their first defeat of the IPL 2026 season on Monday after going down to Sunrisers Hyderabad, despite having won four matches in a row beforehand. Chasing momentum from an earlier streak, Rajasthan were asked to bat after Sunrisers Hyderabad posted a challenging total of 216/6. Captain Ishan Kishan starred with a brilliant 91 to anchor the innings and set up a high-scoring platform.
In reply, Rajasthan Royals were restricted to 159 all out. One of the standout moments for Sunrisers Hyderabad came from debutant pacer Praful Hinge, who made an immediate impact by taking three wickets in his very first over. The spell included the wicket of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who fell for a golden duck. Rajasthan briefly struggled at 9/5, but they managed to regroup thanks to a determined century partnership between Donovan Ferreira and Ravindra Jadeja, which helped them recover and reach the final total of 159.
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