Former South Africa batter Daryll Cullinan via an article on ESPN Cricinfo titled, “Let Vaibhav Sooryavanshi be a boy before we make him a legend”, has urged cricket's governing bodies to prioritise the welfare of teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, warning that the sport currently lacks adequate safeguards to protect young players from the physical and mental demands of professional cricket.
In a thought-provoking column, Cullinan argued that cricket's rapid commercial growth has outpaced the systems needed to ensure the long-term well-being of minors competing at the highest level. The former South African player wrote, "Cricket has no clear structural mechanism, independent of its commercial interests, whose explicit mandate is to protect the long-term well-being of a minor inside the professional game."
While praising the young prodigy’s extraordinary talent, he questioned whether enough attention is being paid to the teenager's health, development and workload. He warned that constant cricket, heavy bats and the explosive nature of modern batting could place excessive strain on a growing body, increasing the risk of long-term injuries.
Drawing comparisons with legends such as Sachin Tendulkar, whose career was briefly threatened by a serious elbow injury, the writer stressed that young players need protection as much as opportunity. He argued that today's packed cricket calendar, franchise commitments and relentless spotlight create pressures unlike anything previous generations experienced.
According to him, modern recovery methods have improved, but they cannot replace sensible workload management and independent oversight.
Cullinan finally concluded with a powerful question for the cricketing world, "Will the game act while there is still time to act wisely?" His comments are not a criticism of Sooryavanshi's rise but a reminder that exceptional talent should never come at the expense of a young player's future. As anticipation around the 15-year-old continues to grow, Daryll believes cricket must ensure that protecting prodigies becomes as important as celebrating them.
"Let Vaibhav Sooryavanshi be a boy”: writes Daryll Cullinan in his article
Former South African batter Daryll Cullinan has called for greater protection of teenage cricket sensation Sooryavanshi, arguing that the sport is venturing into uncharted territory with the rapid rise of a 15-year-old in the era of franchise leagues and social media. In his Cricinfo column, titled “Let Vaibhav Sooryavanshi be a boy before we make him a legend” the former player praised the youngster's extraordinary talent but warned that cricket must not overlook his long-term well-being in the pursuit of success.
Cullinan wrote, “What we are seeing in Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is not simply a talented boy playing above his age. It is something cricket has genuinely never had to deal with before – namely, a child placed at the centre of one of the most commercially powerful, globally visible and socially amplified sporting environments ever created: Indian cricket and the IPL.”
He further explained that while cricket has witnessed young prodigies before, the Bihar boy's situation is unprecedented because of the constant scrutiny and influence of social media. “Cricket has seen prodigies. It has seen young players arrive early and carry labels they did not ask for. But it has not seen this precise combination before, of innocence, extraordinary gift, and a social media world that has abolished nearly every distance between a child and the opinions of hundreds of millions.” The writer stressed that Sooryavanshi is still just 15 years old and deserves the opportunity to grow naturally.
He urged cricket administrators to prioritise the teenager's welfare over commercial interests, warning that careful planning is essential. His powerful message concluded with a reminder that the sport must “act while there is still time to act wisely” and allow Sooryavanshi to enjoy his childhood before placing the burden of greatness on his shoulders.
