Vaibhav Sooryavanshi isn’t just the youngest player to score a century in Indian Premier League history; he’s also scored the second-fastest century in this T20 league cricket tournament. And he’s all of 14 years of age. But the Rajasthan Royals (RR) opening batter, Sooryavanshi isn’t the first player that the game has lapped up and tossed into the spotlight of fame, fortune and adulation. To quote a recent example, Prithvi Shaw, touted by many to be cricket’s boy wonder, found no takers in the 2024 season; instead the only headlines he made were for his lack of focus and indiscipline. Is it any surprise then that RR coach Rahul Dravid’s immediate response to Sooryavanshi’s success was to create a safety net that can help steer the young player away from distractions and help him achieve his full potential?

Parents must take care to praise the children’s efforts, curiosity and persistence, over their successes. Representation pics/istock