As enthusiasm continues to grow for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, former South Africa batsman Daryl Cullinan There are concerns about the physical demands on the 15-year-old prodigy, especially given his explosive hitting style and increasing workload.Soriyavanshi quickly earned a reputation for his fearless batting approach and exceptional batting power. His ability to generate extraordinary bat speed has become one of the defining characteristics of his game. However, Cullinan believes such a radical approach could ultimately take a toll on a young man’s body, especially while his body is still developing. “I’m in awe of this young man but what bothers me is the injury and no one talks about it? At 15 years old, swinging a big bat and playing so much cricket, I’m worried about his wrists, elbows, smaller things and joints. What does the medical opinion say? Remember, SachinHis career was nearly cut short by an elbow injury. “He definitely doesn’t swing as much as Sooryavanshi does,” Cullinan posted on LinkedIn after Sooryavanshi hit 94 in the Tri-Nations series final in Dambulla.Cullinan remains convinced that the pressure generated by Sooryavanshi’s powerful swing could put considerable strain on his body over time.“I think he’ll be following a pretty strict routine. The fact that he’s still growing, I assume his joints, ligaments, muscles are growing too? I can assure you they’re going to be stressed,” Cullinan wrote in response to one of the comments.The former Proteas batsman gave an example Sachin Tendulkara player who is often compared to Sooryavanshi. In 2004, Tendulkar’s celebrated career was threatened by a serious tennis elbow injury, which he later described as one of the most difficult setbacks he had faced despite suffering numerous physical blows during his 24-year international tour.Cullinan believes the modern game may present greater challenges. As players use heavier bats and play busier cricket matches than previous generations, he believes young cricketers face an increased risk of long-term wear and tear.“I know there are a lot of guys with chronic wrist problems. The problem is, we are using lighter bats and playing much less cricket. He is still growing and that needs to be remembered. Today’s training and recovery methods will help, but I do worry about his long-term future and health,” noted Cullinan, who played 70 Tests and 138 ODIs for the Proteas.
