Masterclass blaster Sachin Tendulkar expressed disagreement with the appointment of 15-year-old Vaibha Suryawanshi as the vice-captain of the Eastern region in the Dalip Trophy tournament. Despite Vaibha quickly gaining fame in the world of cricket, achieving success from scoring runs in the IPL to scoring a century in the U-19 World Cup final, Tendulkar believes that the player should focus on gaining experience in red-ball matches at this time.
During a Q&A session held on Reddit, Tendulkar stated that his appointment as vice-captain in the Dalip Trophy was premature. He advised that Vaibha needs to play more matches in the red-ball format and move forward step by step.
When Vaibha Suryawanshi received this position, he had played only eight red-ball matches for Bihar. However, the Eastern region selection committee defended its decision, noting that it was made considering Vaibha's development and should not be viewed through the lens of seniority or team player priorities.
Vaibha also had the opportunity to lead the team for a period when captain Ishan Kishan was injured. He participated in important decisions such as DRS, and videos of these decisions caused significant buzz on social media.
In international T20 cricket, Vaibha Suryawanshi has established himself, but to become a permanent opening batsman in the Indian squad, he must compete with athletes like Sandeep Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan.
During the same conversation, Sachin Tendulkar recalled his experience leading a team. He called leading the national team a great honor but admitted that during that period, he did not always have complete freedom in selecting the squad. When asked about favorite captains, Tendulkar mentioned Saurav Gaunkouli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, particularly highlighting their influence on Indian cricket.
Tendulkar noted that the BCCI operates much more professionally than in the 1990s, calling that period a difficult time for Indian cricket.
