Greg Chappell’s Warning: Don’t Let Vaibhav Become Another Kambli or Shaw

In the history of IPL, young players have always been seen honing their talent. In every season of IPL, many young players get a chance to play, and the young players show their talent and perform brilliantly. Something similar has happened with Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a 14-year-old left-handed batsman of the Rajasthan Royals team. Vaibhav Suryavanshi has created a new record by scoring a century in just 35 balls against the Gujarat Titans team in the third match of his IPL career.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi played just 35 balls in his third match of IPL against Gujarat Titans and has become the second Indian player to score the fastest century after Yusuf Pathan. In such a situation, now former Australian great batsman Greg Chappell has instructed the BCCI to protect Vaibhav Suryavanshi. He has said that Vaibhav Suryavanshi should be protected just like Sachin Tendulkar. His condition should not be like Vinod Kambli and Prithvi Shaw.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi: "Age Doesn’t Matter, Talent Does"

Vaibhav has once again proven to the cricketing world that age is just a number. If you have true talent, nothing can stop you. While earlier it was domestic cricket that produced emerging stars, in recent years, the IPL has become the stage where players get to showcase their abilities in front of millions.

At just 14 years old, Vaibhav has rocked the record books with a 35-ball century in his debut IPL season, making it the second-fastest ton in IPL history and shocking the cricketing fraternity.

Greg Chappell’s Warning: “Protect Talent From Marketing”

However, former Indian coach Greg Chappell issued a vital caution to the BCCI. He said that while India has seen childhood prodigies like Sachin Tendulkar, it has also witnessed equally talented players like Vinod Kambli and Prithvi Shaw fail to realize their full potential.

“Sachin's success wasn’t only due to his talent. He had a strong support system – a balanced mindset, wise coaches, and a family that shielded him from the spotlight and hype,” Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNcricinfo.

“On the other hand, Vinod Kambli, who may have been just as talented, couldn’t balance fame and discipline. His downfall was as rapid as his rise. Prithvi Shaw is another young prodigy whose career is declining, though he still has time to make a comeback.”

Lessons from Vinod Kambli and Prithvi Shaw

Kambli and Tendulkar began their cricketing journeys together. But while one became the "God of Cricket," the other faded into obscurity. Tendulkar scored 34,357 international runs, including 15,921 in Tests and 18,426 in ODIs, with a solitary T20I match yielding 10 runs.

Kambli played only 17 Tests and 104 ODIs. Despite a dazzling start, including back-to-back double centuries (224 against England and 227 against Zimbabwe), a lack of discipline and struggles with alcoholism damaged both his career and health. He was hospitalized in December last year due to health complications.

Similarly, Prithvi Shaw, who was once considered the future of India, is not a part of the Indian team's plans today. He led India to victory in the U-19 World Cup 2018, but now Shubman Gill and Arshdeep Singh, who played under him, have become superstars today. Shaw started his international career with a century, but due to indiscipline, fitness, and off-field controversies, he was not sold even in the IPL 2025 auction. At the same time, 14-year-old Vaibhav has dominated this big stage.

"Talent Needs Guidance, Not Marketing" – Chappell

Chappell made a clear and bold statement, “The point of these stories is not to question the capabilities of young players, but to question how that talent is being nurtured or whether it's being exploited. He appealed to the BCCI, IPL franchises, and the media to treat Vaibhav’s talent not as a marketing tool, but as a seed that must be nurtured in the right direction."

“It is the responsibility of the cricketing ecosystem – BCCI, franchises, mentors, and the media – to protect him. Talent cannot be locked in a bubble, but it can be given armor. Offer him guidance, not glorification; nurture him, don’t just sell him.”

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