Matthew Hayden Cautions Youngsters Against Copying Sooryavanshi's Batting Style

Australian cricket legend Matthew Hayden has cautioned young players against blindly copying Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s ultra-aggressive batting style, saying they must consider whether such an approach can be sustained over a long career. The 15-year-old Sooryavanshi has become one of the biggest talking points in Indian cricket with his fearless, attack-at-all-costs approach, while anticipation continues to build around his potential international debut.

Hayden, who recently watched Sooryavanshi perform in the Indian Premier League while being associated with the Gujarat Titans, was asked whether the teenager’s explosive style could coexist with Shubman Gill’s more classical approach to batting. The former Australian opener said both styles already have a place in T20 cricket but stressed that young players watching Sooryavanshi should carefully assess whether they can successfully maintain the same approach over an extended period.

The former Australia international pointed to Gill as an example of a player whose batting method has already produced consistent results at the highest level. Hayden, who scored more than 15,000 international runs and registered 40 centuries during his career, said international cricket remained the premium standard for judging long-term success. He added that cricket has enough room for players with different methods and personalities to succeed.

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Hayden said every young cricketer should focus on discovering an individual style rather than attempting to become a copy of another successful player. According to him, Sooryavanshi and Gill are completely different personalities who have emerged from different backgrounds and followed different journeys. He described cricket as a skill-based sport in which players develop through their own technical strengths, experiences and personal instincts.

Drawing from his own playing career, Hayden recalled admiring legendary West Indies batter Brian Lara while growing up but understanding that copying Lara’s technique would not make him successful. The Australian said he developed his own game based on his instincts and the sporting environment in regional Queensland. That individual approach, he said, eventually helped him become one of the leading batters of his generation.

Hayden stressed that finding an individual identity is essential for long-term success in professional sport. Referring to sporting greats such as Jonah Lomu, Lionel Messi and Kelly Slater, he said exceptional athletes are remembered because of their unique personalities and abilities. He added that coaches should identify such individuality, nurture it carefully and ensure that a young player’s development remains sustainable rather than encouraging them to simply imitate another star.

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