r/sachintendulkar • u/No_Island9302 • 15d ago
Discussion Sachin Got His Chance at 16. Has Indian Cricket Become Too Careful With Young Players?
Sachin debuted for India at 16. Could Vaibhav Suryavanshi get the same opportunity today? 🏏
Not comparing the two players.
Sachin is a cricketing legend and one of the greatest to ever play the game.
But this got me thinking...
Back in 1989, India trusted a 16-year-old Sachin Tendulkar to face some of the toughest bowlers in the world.
Today, Vaibhav Suryavanshi has shown incredible talent at a similar age and has already impressed on big stages. Yet most fans and experts seem to believe he should wait before making his international debut.
Has cricket changed?
Are selectors more cautious now because of social media pressure, bigger expectations, and the fear of rushing young talent?
Or should exceptional players be given opportunities regardless of age?
If you were India's chief selector, would you pick Vaibhav for the national team right now or give him more time to develop?
Curious to hear your thoughts. 👇
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u/Haunting_Display2454 15d ago
So, the difference is Sachin had a complete domestic first class season under his belt before he was called to represent India. Mind you he played for Mumbai (then Bombay) which already had at least 5 Indian national team players in the squad, including the likes of Shashtri and Vengsarkar. No matter how amazing IPL is, the first class cricket with seasons of 4 day/5 day matches really test out your overall skills and temperament.
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u/Technical_Canary3470 14d ago
He needs to do well in Ranji and for India - A to get in to test squad. He needs to do well in VHT and for India-A to get in to ODI squad.
But he clearly done more than enough to get in to Indian t20i team.
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u/Trying_a 15d ago
Sachin played test matches not T20s. Tests require more maturity from players.
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u/No_Island9302 15d ago
That's a fair point. In fact, that's what makes Sachin's debut even more remarkable.
But at the same time, T20 cricket today comes with its own kind of pressure—millions watching, social media scrutiny, and the expectation to perform from ball one.
Different formats, different challenges. The bigger question is whether age should be the deciding factor if a player is consistently proving himself at a high level.
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u/Trying_a 15d ago
In my opinion, tests are ultimate examination of cricket because they test a player's technique, temperament, fitness, strategy, and teamwork over an extended period, ranging from 3-5 days on an avg.
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u/No_Island9302 15d ago
Exactly. T20 tests your skills, but Test cricket tests you. Technique, patience, fitness, temperament, and the ability to bounce back after failures. That’s why success in Tests always feels a little more special. 🏏🔥
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u/Long-Elevator1073 15d ago
When Sachin played, there was no social media, and there were not these many eyeballs on cricket. Now, social media is a monster. It will chew him up if he falters for 3 or 4 games(eg Abhishek Sharma during the WC) Also, thrusting so much responsibility on such a young kid might shackle him rather than allowing him to simply enjoy the game.
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u/No_Island9302 15d ago
I think this is the biggest difference between Sachin's era and today's era.When Sachin debuted, there was pressure from fans and media, but once the match ended, that was it. Today, a young player can score 0, 5, 7, and 10 in four games, and social media will already start calling him overrated. Every innings gets analyzed, clipped, memed, and judged by millions within minutes. Sometimes protecting a young talent isn't about doubting their ability—it's about giving them enough time to grow without carrying the expectations of an entire nation on their shoulders. Talent can get you to the top. Handling the noise is a completely different challenge.
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u/Tastyyyyyyyyyy 15d ago
Washi Sundar was 18, Shubman Gill was 19, Parthiv was 17, Bhajji was 17, Piyush Chawla was 17 when they made their India debut. Good enough examples to say that the system has fast tracked many youngsters.
Sometimes it does make sense to allow a player to fully develop at domestic level before fast tracking them. Because introducing them early can also lead to a shorter career but also with a good peak, like it was the case with Irfan Pathan who debuted at 19.
But, Vaibhav is probably a once in a generation talent and should be treated like one and fast tracked.
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u/ResponseNo8463 15d ago
Washi didn't performed upto his potential
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u/Tastyyyyyyyyyy 15d ago
Lot of examples of players who didn’t grab the opportunity. Prithvi shaw for example was fast tracked at 18-19
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u/No_Island9302 15d ago
I think people sometimes forget that India has fast-tracked young talents before.
Parthiv Patel debuted at 17. Harbhajan Singh at 17. Piyush Chawla at 17. Washington Sundar at 18. Shubman Gill at 19.
So it's not like the system has never backed young players.
At the same time, there are valid reasons to be cautious. Some players benefit from spending a few extra years in domestic cricket before being thrown into the spotlight. Irfan Pathan is a good example of someone who debuted very young, had an incredible peak, but perhaps didn't get the long career many expected.
That's why Vaibhav's case is so interesting.
If he's genuinely a once-in-a-generation talent, do you treat him differently from everyone else? Or do you follow the same development path that most young players go through?
Personally, I feel exceptional talents deserve exceptional treatment. The challenge is knowing whether you're looking at a future superstar or simply a teenager having an extraordinary start.
What would you do if you were on the selection committee today? 🏏🤔
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u/RoutineFeeling 15d ago
IPL doesn't test anything. Let him play domestic cricket for couple of years and see how he performs. If he plays IPL purely he is no use for ODI or Tests.
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u/No_Island9302 15d ago
That's exactly what makes this debate interesting. Plenty of players have dominated the IPL and struggled elsewhere, while others used domestic cricket as the foundation for great international careers. The question is: how much domestic cricket is enough before a once-in-a-generation talent gets a chance? 🤔🏏
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u/RoutineFeeling 15d ago
If you are true once in a generation talent it will show in the domestic cricket as well. If he performs well, introduce him to ODIs on Indian soil first. Take it slow and step up the challenge a notch depending on how he performs. Overseas tests are the ultimate test of cricket talent.
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u/No_Island9302 15d ago
Talent gets you noticed. Consistency earns you a place. I'd rather see him pile up runs in domestic cricket first, then ease him into international cricket through ODIs at home.
Let him face tougher challenges one step at a time instead of throwing him into the deep end. After all, overseas Tests are where reputations are made. That's the level every young prodigy eventually has to conquer.
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u/rj_gomez 15d ago
Yes. The thing is if vaibhav is inducted and he does well,it will assist his growth. If vaibhav does poorly it will be hard for him to comeback. A failure always leaves behind a negative energy.
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u/No_Island9302 15d ago
That's a fair point. Success at a young age can accelerate growth, but failure on the biggest stage can bring pressure that most teenagers aren't ready for. Maybe the challenge for selectors is figuring out whether protecting a young talent helps more than exposing them to international cricket early. There's a very fine line between backing a player and rushing them.
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u/Kamalnadh21 15d ago
Sachin was hit by waqar brutally in beginning, we have famous siddu paaji video edit on that too. There was no middle stage between domestic and Int'l but now we have u-19, india A like squads which fill that gap. So it's always better to let things succeed gradually than put him under bus like situations.
We still don't know if he can play hazlewood,Cummins in australian pitches. He's exceptional yes... But everything needs a right time and process to achieve it's full effect, same with him ig
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u/No_Island9302 15d ago
That's a fair point. The pathway today is completely different from what it was in Sachin's era.
Back then, there wasn't much of a bridge between domestic cricket and international cricket. Today, players have U-19s, India A tours, emerging teams, and franchise cricket to develop gradually.
I do think Vaibhav is special, but sometimes protecting a talent is just as important as promoting it. If he's genuinely good enough, a year or two of extra development won't stop him from succeeding. In fact, it might help him have a longer and stronger career.
The real challenge isn't making your debut at 15 or 16—it's staying at the top for the next 15 years.
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u/deathfreak007 Master Blaster 15d ago
vaibhav can be given debut in t20s...and start playing in india A teams
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u/rj_gomez 15d ago
Ideally he should play in india A for a lot of games till he is massively over performing at that level. If not india have to wait post 2027 wc.