Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has showered praise on teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, calling him an “unbelievable” talent and claiming the youngster is achieving something “no one has ever done before” with his fearless approach to the game.Speaking on JioStar, Harbhajan said Sooryavanshi’s confidence and willingness to back his instincts represent the changing mindset of modern-day cricketers, who are now encouraged to express themselves without fear of failure.“What Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is doing today, no one has ever done before. He is unbelievable, a great talent. I don’t think I have seen or faced a talent like that,” Harbhajan said.The former off-spinner also pointed out how the influence of social media has amplified the visibility of young stars, making their exploits reach a much wider audience than in previous generations.“The difference between today’s youth and the youth back then is the reach of today’s media and social media. Things happened back then too, but today they get highlighted a lot more,” he added.
Rahul Dravid ‘s question and Sooryavanshi’s unforgettable answer
Harbhajan also recalled a memorable anecdote involving former India head coach Rahul Dravid that perfectly captured Sooryavanshi’s fearless mentality before his IPL debut.According to Harbhajan, Dravid had asked the youngster what he planned to do if he faced a hittable delivery on the very first ball of his IPL career.“I think the biggest change is that people are accepting players with that fearless mindset and their approach of playing the way they want to,” he said.He continued: “Rahul Dravid was the coach of that team (Rajasthan Royals), and he asked Sooryavanshi, ‘What will you do on the first ball?’ He said, ‘If the first ball is in my arc, I will smash it.’ And he actually did. He hit a six off the very first ball he faced in his IPL career, against Shardul Thakur.”The story, Harbhajan said, underlined the confidence that has made the teenager one of the brightest young batting talents in Indian cricket.
Tendulkar’s advice that shaped Harbhajan’s career
Alongside his praise for Sooryavanshi, Harbhajan also reflected on the most valuable lesson of his own career, revealing the advice he received from batting icon Sachin Tendulkar.“The best advice I ever got was from the great Sachin Tendulkar,” Harbhajan said.Recalling Tendulkar’s words, he said: “Sachin paaji told me, ‘There will be many distractions, many things will come your way, but you have to keep your blinders on, so that you can’t look left or right, and only look straight ahead. And what lies ahead? Cricket! If you stay on this path, no one in the world can stop you. Whatever you want to become, whatever you want to do, you will earn every kind of respect, honour, and fame, everything, if you keep walking on this path.‘”Harbhajan said that same message is what he now passes on to young cricketers beginning their journeys.“So, I give the same advice to youngsters: keep your focus on the game. You are who you are because of the game. Don’t think that you are bigger than the game. If your attitude isn’t right, as much as this game provides, it also knows how to take it back just as quickly,” he said.
