Robin Uthappa warned Vaibhav Suryavanshi about the need for discipline, citing examples of Vinod Kambli and Prithvi Shaw

August 6, 18:00

Uthappa noted that many young players have appeared in Indian cricket previously who attracted attention at an early age, but whose careers did not develop as expected later on. He cited Vinod Kambli and Prithvi Shaw as examples, emphasizing that proper guidance and discipline are critically important for further progress after initial success.

In an interview with Combox TV, Uthappa stated that Vaibhav is capable of making an impact in baseball cricket surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's influence, but this will depend on how his career is managed. He recalled players like Vinod Kambli and Prithvi Shaw, who were given high hopes at the age of 17-18, but whose careers subsequently declined.

Vaibhav recently debuted for the Indian national team in international cricket at a very young age. Although his start on the tour of England was modest, he demonstrated an impressive comeback during the T20 series against Zimbabwe, receiving the 'Player of the Series' award.

In Uthappa's opinion, Vaibhav possesses exceptional talent, but his main task now is to learn how to handle the pressure that arises off the field. If he can overcome these difficulties, Indian cricket could gain another great batsman.

www.aajtak.inAugust 6, 08:41

Former player suggests special regimen for frequently injured Bumrah: year off before return

The physical condition of star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is causing concern among the Indian team. Bumrah was unable to fully recover from an injury during the tour in England, which forced him to miss a two-match test series against Sri Lanka. Akib Nabi, a fast bowler from Jammu and Kashmir, was included in the Indian squad for the series starting on August 15th in his place.

Former all-rounder of India, Karun Gavaskar, offered significant advice to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the team management regarding Bumrah. Gavaskar believes that instead of fielding Bumrah too early despite frequent injuries, he should be given a long break for complete recovery.

Karun Gavaskar, who was part of the Indian team in two World Cups, stated in a mid-day conversation that Bumrah should take a break of five to six months, or even a full year if necessary. He emphasized that he should not be brought back into play until he reaches one hundred percent readiness. Gavaskar noted that Bumrah often plays in major tournaments or series without being completely healthy, and then his body breaks down due to increased load.

He added that a player who is only 50-60 percent fit should not be included in the squad at all. Otherwise, he might get injured mid-tournament, disrupting the overall balance of the team. In Gavaskar's opinion, this is not beneficial for either the player or the country.

The 75-year-old former cricketer believes that under the current circumstances, Bumrah's participation in all three formats of the game is not advisable. He advised the team management to focus Bumrah's usage primarily on Test matches, as this is the most important format for India. Gavaskar argues that if Bumrah constantly plays in the IPL (Indian Premier League), T20 International, and ODI, his body will not be able to sustain such a high workload for long.

Karun Gavaskar also called for the return of experienced fast bowlers Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar to the squad. He mentioned that both these bowlers regularly play in the IPL in recent seasons and are in good form. Gavaskar explained that Shami and Bhuvneshwar continue to play cricket and have avoided injuries. He urged selectors to utilize their experience.

According to Karun Gavaskar, the return of Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar would significantly reduce the pressure on Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah. He suggested rotating between Shami and Siraj in Tests, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar's experience could be useful to the team in T20.

In recent years, Jasprit Bumrah has suffered multiple injuries, and his workload management has been constantly questioned. Following his exclusion from the Test series against Sri Lanka, the BCCI's fitness system and the activities of the Centre of Excellence (CoE) have also come under scrutiny. In this situation, Karun Gavaskar's advice is seen as an important signal to the Indian team management. It remains to be seen whether the board of directors will make any substantial changes to the workload management for Bumrah's career extension.

www.aajtak.inJuly 23, 07:55

Harbhajan Singh highly praises the talent of 15-year-old Vaivava Suryavanshi

Despite Vaivava Suryavanshi not achieving a major batting breakthrough during the T20 series against England, the team management remains confident in him. During the series against England, 15-year-old Vaivava scored runs in matches on 14, 13, and 15 points. It is anticipated that he will be given another opportunity to play in the T20 series against Zimbabwe.

Praise from Harbhajan Singh

Former Indian national spinner Harbhajan Singh highly praised the batsman, considering Vaivava Suryavanshi one of the rarest talents in Indian cricket. In an interview with JioStar, Harbhajan noted that the pressure from social media and the media on young players today is much higher than before. Nevertheless, Vaivava's fearless style of play sets him apart from others.

Generational Comparison and IPL

Harbhajan Singh emphasized that the main difference between the current young generation and players of his time lies in the influence of social media. He added that what Vaivava Suryavanshi is doing now, no one did before, calling it incredible. He stated that throughout his career, he had never seen or played against such talent.

Harbhajan Singh also recalled an interesting episode related to Vaivava's debut in the IPL (Indian Premier League). When Rahul Dravid was the coach of Rajasthan Royals (RR), he asked Vaivava what he would do with the first ball of his IPL career. Vaivava replied without hesitation that if the first ball came into his reach zone, he would hit a six. This prediction proved true: Vaivava indeed hit an impressive six off the very first ball against Shardul Thakur in his first IPL game.

Prospects and Management Confidence

Although Vaivava Suryavanshi did not perform a major innings against England, the team has maintained faith in his aggressive attitude and confidence. He has established himself as an uncompromising player against star bowlers both in domestic cricket and in the IPL. This is why, despite initial setbacks, selectors and management see him as a future big star. Now, Vaivava Suryavanshi has a chance to prove himself during the tour of Zimbabwe. If he can translate his natural aggressive style into big scores, his place in the Indian team may strengthen. The statement from a veteran like Harbhajan Singh clearly indicates the high hopes placed on this 15-year-old batsman by Indian cricket in the coming years.