Young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has become an instant hit since his IPL debut for Rajasthan Royals in 2025 at the age of 14. The batter showed great promise as he came down the wicket to hit Shardul Thakur for a massive six to get off the mark. He scored the second-fastest ton in the league, which came against the Gujarat Titans in Jaipur. 

Former India player Robin Uthappa has urged the team management to keep the youngster in check so that he doesn’t fall. The 40-year-old gave the examples of Vinod Kambli and Prithvi Shaw.

The former IPL winner with Kolkata Knight Riders took to his YouTube channel and said, “Vaibhav could have a bigger impact in white-ball cricket than even Sachin Tendulkar. What is important is how he is going to be managed. We have seen some great talents come through the door in Indian cricket like Kambli and Shaw. People were wondering what they would become if they realized their potential, but they fell off the wagon.”

Kambli had started as a prodigy alongside Sachin Tendulkar, but his India career was over at the age of 29. Shaw, on the other hand, led the side to an Under-19 World Cup win and also made his debut against West Indies, where he scored a ton in his maiden innings. His career has faced a huge slide since 2020 and is currently facing an uphill battle to make it back to the national side. 

Robin Uthappa wants youngster to focus on cricket

In his YouTube video, the former RCB star also said, “The first big challenge for Vaibhav is: can he stay unspoiled for the next five years? He is 15 now; can he stay untouched and unspoiled till the age of 20? There are many people around him to take care of him, and the player should focus on cricket.” 

India’s former batter also said that the youngster will face more distractions when he grows older. “There is so much innocence seen when he speaks; I love the fact that he is turning down every advertisement and deal coming his way and keeping his focus on the game. He is still a child, and when he turns 18, he will become a man, and there will be female attention coming his way, which can be a distraction as well.”

“Don’t think he should be introduced to the world of social media as yet; he is made for cricket, and the same feeling you got from Virat Kohli is that he is made for the game.” Robin further said about the young Indian batting prodigy.