Teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is on the verge of making history as he prepares for a likely debut with the Indian men's cricket team later this month. The youngster, who is expected to become the youngest-ever player to represent India's senior men's side, has attracted widespread attention for his explosive batting and rapid rise through the ranks. However, former India mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton believes the focus should now shift toward preparing the prodigy for the inevitable challenges that come with international cricket.

Upton, who worked with India's 2011 World Cup-winning team and has also been associated with the country's Olympic medal-winning hockey squad, stressed that managing setbacks will be crucial for Sooryavanshi's development. Speaking to Sportstar, Upton said one of the first steps for the team management should be preparing the youngster for the possibility of failure. According to him, poor performances are a natural part of every athlete's journey and learning how to handle them is often more important than early success.

The former mental conditioning coach pointed out that Sooryavanshi's recent appearances in the Tri-Nation A series revealed areas of vulnerability, particularly against short-pitched bowling. While such weaknesses are common among young players transitioning to higher levels of competition, Upton emphasized that the real test lies in how a player responds when things do not go according to plan. He noted that criticism, media scrutiny and public expectations can become overwhelming for young cricketers if they are not mentally prepared.

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"The failure is not going to be the problem. It's how does he manage himself around the failure and how does he manage himself around all the criticism and the noise and the stories that are going to come out when he inevitably has a run of poor form," Upton said. He added that preparing a player for the worst-case scenario can often provide a strong foundation for long-term success and resilience at the highest level.

Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken special measures to help Sooryavanshi adjust to life in the senior national setup. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia explained the board's decision to allow the youngster's parents to accompany him on the upcoming white-ball tour of Ireland and England, which begins on June 26 in Belfast. The tour includes two matches against Ireland and five against England, marking a significant step in the teenager's career.

Saikia said the decision was taken because players as young as Sooryavanshi are rarely part of senior international squads. Drawing comparisons with cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who made his international debut as a teenager, Saikia said the board wanted to ensure the youngster remained comfortable in an environment dominated by adults. He noted that parental support could help Sooryavanshi adapt more smoothly to the pressures and responsibilities of international cricket as he embarks on what could be a landmark chapter in his career.

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