With each passing month, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is convincing the cricketing world that he’s the real deal: a true prodigy, with unseen skill and natural physical gifts to make him stand out in a game of fine margins. Recently, his poor start to the India-A tri-series in Sri Lanka made some scoff about his ability to ‘step up’ to ‘senior’ cricket, despite his IPL exploits, but he proved them wrong with his record-breaking 94 in the final.
One thing that analysts and biomechanics experts alike have pointed out about Sooryavanshi’s differentiating factors is his hand speed. The way he connects to a cricket ball is almost brutal, and his dexterous wrists and elbows work in a way that’s not been seen since Don Bradman and Gary Sobers. However, now
a genuine concern has been raised about those very aspects.
It comes from former South Africa international batter Daryll Cullinan, who feels that Sooryavanshi’s explosive batting would be putting extreme stress on his body, which can lead to long-term injuries. He recalled how Sachin Tendulkar’s career ‘amost got cut short’ because of his tennis elbow in 2004.
“I’m in awe of this young man, but what’s bothering me, and no one is talking about it, is injuries?” Cullinan wrote on LinkedIn. “At 15, swinging a big bat, playing so much cricket, I fear for his wrists, elbows, the smaller stuff and joints. What does medical opinion say? Remember, Sachin’s career almost got cut short by a bad elbow. He definitely would not have been swinging so hard so often as Sooryavanshi,” he added.
“I think he would be on a fairly strict routine. It’s the fact that he is still growing, and so too the joints, ligaments, muscles, I would presume? They will be taking strain, I can assure you,” Cullinan wrote.
Cullinan said he was especially concerned because of how the sport has changed, with heavier bat and packed schedules with not much recovery time.
“I know of a good few guys who picked up chronic wrist problems. The thing is, we were using lighter bats, playing far less cricket. He is still growing, which needs to be remembered. Today’s training and recovery methods will help, but I do fear for his long-term future and health.”
Sooryavanshi played all 14 games of the IPL, then toured Sri Lanka straight after and will now join the Indian T20I squad in Ireland, where he’s expected to be given a debut. All before turning 16.
What is a Tennis Elbow injury?
Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is an overuse injury involving inflammation and micro-tearing of the tendons that attach forearm muscles to the outside of the elbow. In 2004, Tendulkar developed a severe case from the repetitive stress of gripping a heavy bat and executing decades of forceful shots.
The debilitating pain left him unable to lift even a lightweight plastic bat, raising fears of early retirement. To save his career, Tendulkar underwent surgery in London in May 2005. Following an intensive, months-long rehabilitation process, he successfully recovered and returned to international cricket.
