As the excitement around Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues to build, the former South African batsman Daryll Cullinan has raised concerns about the physical demands placed on the 15-year-old prodigy, particularly given his explosive batting style and increased workload.Sooryavanshi quickly gained a reputation for his fearless approach and remarkable power. His ability to generate exceptional bat speed has become one of the defining characteristics of his game. However, Cullinan believes that such an aggressive method could eventually take a toll on the young man’s body, especially as he is still physically developing. “I am amazed by this young man, but what worries me, and no one talks about it, are they injured? At 15, swinging a big bat, playing so much cricket, I fear for his wrists, elbows, smaller ones and joints. What does the medical opinion say? Remember, SachinHis career was almost cut short by a bad blow. I definitely didn’t swing as hard as Sooryavanshi,” Cullinan posted on LinkedIn after Sooryavanshi’s 94-run knock in the final of the Tri-Nation series in Dambulla.Cullinan remains convinced that the stress generated by Sooryavanshi’s strong swings could put considerable pressure on his body over time.“I think he would be in a fairly strict routine. It is the fact that he is still growing, and so also the joints, ligaments, muscles, I would assume? They will take strain, I can assure you,” wrote Cullinan, responding to one of the comments.The former Proteas batsman pointed to the example of Sachin Tendulkara player with whom Sooryavanshi is often compared. Tendulkar’s illustrious career was threatened by a serious tennis elbow injury in 2004, a problem he later described as one of the most difficult encounters he faced despite suffering numerous physical blows during his 24-year international journey.Cullinan believes the modern game can present even greater challenges. With players using heavier bats and competing in a much busier cricket schedule than previous generations, he feels young cricketers face increased risks of wear and tear in the long term.“We know of a few guys who have taken chronic wrist problems. The thing is, we used lighter bats, they play much less cricket. It is still growing, which must be remembered. Today’s training and recovery methods help, but I fear for his long-term future and health”, Cullinan, who played 70 Tests, and pointed to 138 ODIs.
