Daryll Cullinan fears early fame could derail Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s career

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is only 15 years old, but he has already become one of the biggest names in Indian cricket. After his brilliant performances in the ICC Under-19 World Cup and IPL 2026, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has earned his maiden India call-up for the ongoing UK tour.

However, the teenage batting sensation didn’t get the chance on the Ireland tour, but many expect Vaibhav will make his debut in the upcoming five-match T20I series in England. There is a massive buzz around the teen sensation even though he has not yet made his India debut.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s growing fame worries Daryll Cullinan before possible India debut

Well, former South Africa batter Daryll Cullinan was not impressed with so much hype around Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and urged people to enjoy his game without putting too much pressure.

Addressing the continuous demand for India’s debut, Cullinan said that Vaibhav has a very bright future, so fans should not be greedy for his early success. He believes that the teenager should get time to grow, enjoy life, continue his studies, spend time with friends, and learn from his mistakes.

Daryll Cullinan was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo: “What we should hope for is that he retires at 40 and is not washed up at 25. That’s another 25 years of him! We should hope there are still parts of his life in which he can be ordinary and unobserved, in which he can fail quietly, laugh freely, finish his studies, play without a camera nearby, and digest all of what’s happening.”

Daryll Cullinan urges Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to seek guidance from Sachin Tendulkar

The former South African batter also said Vaibhav is lucky because he has someone like Sachin Tendulkar to learn from. Since Sachin also started playing for India at a very young age, he understands the pressure better than anyone, and Cullinan urged the teenager to seek his advice. Amid this, Cheteshwar Pujara issues bold warning to Shreyas Iyer ahead of England T20I Series.

The cricket pundit added, “It is my sincere hope that he will turn to Tendulkar for guidance. He could not be luckier than to have a mentor in a fellow Indian cricketer who has been through it all and seen it all and who will have his best interests at heart.”

Daryll Cullinan drops emotional truth on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Cullinan said that Vaibhav’s amazing cricket talent has made him a huge star at a very young age, even before he has played his first match for India. The Proteas star said that the left-hander should live a normal childhood, explore other interests, and grow up as a person.

He stressed that if young players are pushed too hard too early, it can affect both their confidence and fitness. Cullinan added, “That does not mean ignoring his talent. It means understanding that the talent will only be truly served if the person carrying it is allowed to grow whole and he is physically allowed to develop without the risk of premature injuries.”

Cullinan feels it is a little sad that the young boy could not simply enjoy being a child. He signed off by saying, “His identity has been decided for him by his own gift, the most involuntary thing a person can possess, before he has had much chance to explore alternatives. That is the quiet sadness beneath all the celebration. The boy becomes the legend before he has had the chance simply to become a man.”