Former India leg-spinner L Sivaramakrishnan feels that 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should continue playing regularly instead of taking a break, saying the consistent playing time will help the youngsters learn, make mistakes and gain experience in different conditions.Sooryavanshi became India’s youngest international cricketer at the age of 15 years and 99 days when he made his debut in the second T20I against England in Manchester on Saturday.Sivaramakrishnan, who himself made his Test debut as a 17-year-old against West Indies in 1983, said India should continue to support the teenager after giving him his first chance.“He should get quite a few chances in white-ball cricket and see how he performs. He should continue. I mean, there’s no point in bleeding a young man and letting him rest or rest. He doesn’t need rest. He can maintain good form throughout the year,” Sivaramakrishnan was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India news agency.“Especially as a batsman, he doesn’t need the physical fitness of a bowler. Batting for long periods of time also makes him concentrate and do mental work for a long time,” he added.Soriyavanshi scored 14 off 10 balls on debut, including two sixes. Sivaramakrishnan said the team’s attitude towards him should not change.“Once you decide to play him, you have to give him ample opportunities. Remember, he is an investment for the next 20 years. I think what Vaibhav needs now is a lot of support from the coach (Gautam Gambhir) and captain (Shreyas Iyer) and other team members. Even if he struggles in a few games, he deserves support. He should continue. “According to Sivaramakrishnan, Sooryavanshi’s attacking style will naturally bring some defeats, but that shouldn’t stop him from playing the game.“I would like to see him get proper guidance and support. He is the kind of batsman who might take some risks. But modern cricket is all about taking risks. So, he should not be told to inhibit his natural instincts and the way he approaches the game.”
