Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has conquered the hype. Now comes the hard part: Waiting
15-year-old cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is facing a period of transition as he navigates high expectations and bench time under coach Gautam Gambhir. Experts suggest he must learn to manage his new status as a rising star in Indian cricket.
Why it matters
It explores the psychological and career challenges faced by young athletes in high-pressure professional sports environments.
NEW DELHI: One will have to feel for 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.Whenever VVS Laxman has been at the helm, Sooryavanshi has played for India, be it in Zimbabwe or at the recently concluded 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. To accommodate the teenager in the playing XI, Sanju Samson moved down to No. 3. But with Gautam Gambhir back for the West Indies T20I series, Sooryavanshi has been left warming the bench.The youngster did make his India debut under Gambhir during the tour of England earlier this year, but India's head coach made it clear that Sooryavanshi will have to wait for his opportunity. Gambhir has also made no secret of his faith in Samson, India's Player of the Tournament in the 2026 T20 World Cup.
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