Discussion on the decision to appoint Vaibha Suryavanshi as Vice-Captain in the Eastern Zone

August 6, 04:33

Since his appearance on the field in Tajpur village, Samstitpura, when Vaibha Suryavanshi was a teenager of 13-14 years old, his play and aggressive style attracted the attention of all observers. He debuted in the Ranji tournament at the age of 12, later became one of the fastest batsmen in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Rajasthan Royals, demonstrated brilliant performances in the U-19 World Cup, and now, at 15, debuted for the Indian national team.

For those who analyze cricket from a statistical perspective, his career resembles a golden egg, as Vaibha constantly sets new records. However, a recent decision made by the selection committee for the Eastern Zone team in the Duleep Trophy tournament sparked active discussions. In the team led by Ishan Kishan, 15-year-old Vaibha Suryavanshi was appointed vice-captain.

One member of the Eastern Zone selection committee, Praranjan Malik, believes that giving Vaibha responsibility will help him become more mature, which in the future will allow him to contend for the post of captain of India. Committee members believe that since captain Ishan Kishan is a wicket-keeping batsman and will make the main decisions, the entire burden of leadership will not fall on Vaibha. Nevertheless, there is a natural question about the haste hidden behind this argument.

In the media space and public opinion, there is celebration over the fact that a 15-year-old child has become vice-captain. But beneath this noise sounds a quiet cautionary voice of folk wisdom, which says: 'Slowly, my friend...'

Rapid advancement suits neither Vaibha nor cricket itself. Although no one doubts Vaibha's talent, especially fans, his ability to time the ball on the field is compared to a natural miracle. However, captaincy or the role of vice-captain is not just a position or an award; it is a skill of strategic maturity, understanding opponents' moves, assessing series, and maintaining patience under pressure. It is an art that comes after hundreds of matches of wins and losses.

At Vaibha's age, he should be focused solely on improving his game and surviving in red-ball cricket, but he has been subjected to mental stress related to understanding team decisions. Statistics show that Vaibha demonstrates outstanding results in the IPL and T20 formats, maintaining a pace above 200. However, his average in classic first-class cricket remains around 17-18. This proves that his game in four-day matches still requires much time and work.

When a batsman is going through the stage of mastering the subtleties of his own game, he should not be thinking about where to place fielders or which bowler to take a series from. This disrupts his natural development. Selection specialists argue that they are preparing Vaibha for the future, but he is only 15 years old. Do they really want to make him the captain of India at 18? Now he should be allowed to play freely, by his own will. If concepts of leadership, captaincy, branding, etc., are instilled in his mind from an early age, how will he be able to absorb match tactics and cope with pressure?

History has shown that in the pursuit of creating the 'next Sachin' prematurely, we have seen many talents burn out. Even Sachin Tendulkar debuted at 16, but he was not initially put under pressure regarding captaincy. He was given the freedom to play and learn under the supervision of senior players.

In the era of the modern market and social media, '15-year-old vice-captain' is a very marketable headline that appeals to brands and attracts news ratings. But when you are placed at the top at 15, the fear of failure becomes very deep. If Vaibha's performance subsides after a couple of matches, the same media and social networks that praise him as vice-captain today will immediately begin to question his maturity.

There is an old saying in cricket: for class to bloom, not bright lights, but time and solitude are needed. Vaibha should have been given the opportunity to mature simply as a player. The Eastern Zone selection committee should realize that a banyan tree requires years, not instant growth, after which it will break from the first strong wind.

Therefore, amidst this noise of celebration and praise, there is only one piece of advice for Vaibha's best future, which Kabirdas himself wrote: 'Slowly, my friend, everything will happen, the watering gardener waters a hundred pots, and the fruit ripens when the season comes.'

www.aajtak.inAugust 7, 08:49

Ajinkya Rahane discusses long wait for debut in Indian Test squad

Former Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane shared memories of a difficult period in his career when, despite being included in the Test squad, he could not make the starting XI. The 38-year-old waited nearly two years and 20 matches for his Test debut. During this time, he remained part of the team, primarily serving as the 12th player.

Rahane admitted that this period was challenging. However, instead of feeling disappointed or seeking sympathy, he viewed it as an opportunity for self-improvement. He believes that this waiting period strengthened his approach and mentality, which later helped him build a long career in Tests.

Ajinkya Rahane first debuted for India in limited-overs formats in August 2011. After that, he began to be included in the Test team, but access to the starting lineup was not immediate. Sharing these memories on his YouTube channel, Rahane noted: 'The first two years after I first joined the team in 2011 were very difficult for me. I had to wait 20 matches for my Test debut, and I was the 12th player for two years.'

It is natural for any young player to become upset when constantly being outside the starting lineup. According to Ajinkya Rahane, at that time he faced two options: either seek sympathy from people regarding his situation or use the time to improve himself. He stated: 'I had two options before me. Either I seek sympathy, or I try to improve myself. There is nothing wrong with being the 12th player, fetching water, or helping teammates. I took it positively.'

Rahane did not view the role of the 12th player merely as waiting. He closely observed senior players on the field and in the dressing room, trying to learn from them. He recounted that observing the players changed his mindset and his view of cricket. Rahane believes that this experience contributed to his long-term participation in games for India.

Ajinkya Rahane also spoke about an interesting instance related to developing patience in his career. He linked this to journeys on the local Mumbai train. Rahane said: 'I wouldn't say I had so much patience from the beginning. When you travel on the local Mumbai train, it can be difficult. Patience starts developing from there.'

After consistently scoring runs in home matches, Ajinkya Rahane also felt hope for a spot in the Indian team. In his opinion, after playing well, a player naturally begins to think that their name should now appear in the Indian squad. Rahane reported that after conversations with some senior cricketers, he started focusing on things within his control instead of overthinking the selection.

He emphasized: 'Over time, I realized what would happen when it was supposed to happen. What is under your control, you can do. If you want to play long, patience is very important.'

This wait for Ajinkya Rahane finally ended in March 2013, when he was given the opportunity to debut in Test cricket. After that, he was a vital part of the middle order of the Indian Test team for a long time. For India, Rahane played 144 innings in 85 Tests, scoring 5077 runs. His average was 38.46, and he scored 12 centuries and 26 half-centuries.

Similar stories

Popular

Discussion on the decision to appoint Vaibha Suryavanshi as Vice-Captain in the Eastern Zone

Ajinkya Rahane discusses long wait for debut in Indian Test squad