For Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to be fast-tracked to the Indian team, it was hardly a surprise for the cricket fraternity. It was expected he would soon be rubbing shoulders with some of the best in the business. His exploits in the Indian Premier League (IPL) were showcased in a breathtaking fashion, with fast bowlers like Pat Cummins and Jasprit Bumrah being clubbed around by this lad.
That Sooryavanshi will have his parents on the tour to Ireland and England is a welcome development, with the Board allowing him this rare privilege, keeping in mind his age – just over 15.
There is a precedent to this. In 1989, when India toured Pakistan, Sachin Tendulkar was joined by his elder brother, Ajit, for a period as support, given the atmosphere the players were likely to encounter in the neighboring nation. Pakistan was considered a hostile country, and a shocking incident—skipper K. Srikkanth being assaulted by a spectator in the first Test at Karachi—raised security concerns among the Indian players.
Tendulkar was reportedly rattled by what he saw, and manager Chandu Borde lost no time in taking him under his wings. His family was worried about the 16-year-old, and a decision was made to send Ajit away for a short period.
Sooryavanshi is unlikely to encounter such incidents in Ireland and England. Yet the Board’s decision to allow his parents to stay with him is a laudable step. If nothing else, they can be a cushion for their son in times when the biggest threat to Sooryavanshi could come from the prying media. His sudden rise to command an exalted status in the world of cricket puts Sooryavanshi in an enviable position.
File Photo | In 1989, when India toured Pakistan, Sachin Tendulkar was joined by his elder brother, Ajit, for a period as support, given the atmosphere the players were likely to encounter in the neighboring nation. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Photo Library
File Photo | In 1989, when India toured Pakistan, Sachin Tendulkar was joined by his elder brother, Ajit, for a period as support, given the atmosphere the players were likely to encounter in the neighboring nation. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Photo Library
His parents know him best, and their presence can certainly act as a catalyst for him to do his job just as he is used to. It is a new phenomenon for a player to have his parents accompany him on a tour. It is a privilege not known to cricketers in the past. The only time Tendulkar’s mother watched him at the ground was during his farewell Test at Mumbai in 2013. I was a witness to the incident in which Ajit and his mother’s vehicle was prevented from accessing the VIP entry, where a temporary ramp had been installed to facilitate her climb. The guard was not aware.
Sooryavanshi would be in the right frame of mind, traveling with his parents. He would be wiser by the experience at the end of the India `A’ tour to Sri Lanka after a successful outing in Zimbabwe in January for the under-19 World Cup. On that Zimbabwe tour, he was well mentored by stalwarts like VVS Laxman, Sunil Joshi and Hrishikesh Kanitkar. It is believed that Sooryavanshi is good at learning lessons and essentially stays grounded.
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It will be to Sooryavanshi’s benefit that he has the backing of the Board on a tough tour to England. The conditions, both on and off the field, can be challenging for a boy his age, and it makes sense to allow his parents to travel with him. Of course, his cricket would be taken care of by the team management, but it is important for him to stay focused on non-match days, where his parents would ensure he is not troubled by the ever-demanding media.
On tours, often players are restricted to their rooms to avoid unwanted elements and Sooryavanshi, a well-behaved youngster, will face a sea of people, supporters and otherwise, in England, waiting for his arrival to create a world of stories unheard of in their media. Here, his parents will guide him, as they have been doing so wonderfully all these developing years as a cricketer.
Also, it would be a great idea for Sooryavanshi to undergo a mentoring session with Sunil Gavaskar, easily the most traveled Indian cricketer to England. Sooryavanshi can pick up lessons in cricket and life from Gavaskar, who went to England as a schoolboy and returned season after season in different roles. The BCCI should rope in Gavaskar, perhaps Tendulkar too.
The BCCI has done well in taking the first step.
Published on Jun 06, 2026
