'Sachin's career almost got cut short' - Daryll Cullinan warns Vaibhav Sooryavanshi over long-term injury risk

Former South Africa batter Daryll Cullinan has raised concerns over the long-term physical toll of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's explosive batting, warning that the 15-year-old's growing joints and ligaments could be at risk from the bat speed and workload driving his rapid rise in world cricket.

Cullinan's comments came after Sooryavanshi's 94 off 29 balls in the Sri Lanka A tri-series final in Dambulla on Sunday, June 21, an innings that included the fastest List A fifty in history, off just 11 balls, and helped India A to a 66-run win. The Bihar-born left-hander finished IPL 2026 with 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30 to win the Orange Cap, striking a record 72 sixes across the season.

Cullinan, who played 208 matches for South Africa across formats, took to LinkedIn to flag a concern he felt was going unaddressed amid the celebrations.

“I'm in awe of this young man, but what's bothering me, and no one is talking about it, is injuries? At 15, swinging a big bat, playing so much cricket, I fear for his wrists, elbows, the smaller stuff and joints. What does medical opinion say? Remember, Sachin's career almost got cut short by a bad elbow. He definitely would not have been swinging so hard so often as Sooryavanshi,” Cullinan wrote on LinkedIn.

What does Daryll Cullinan fear for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's long-term health?

Responding to a comment on his own post, Cullinan explained why he saw cause for concern despite the teenager's numbers continuing to defy convention.

“I think he would be on a fairly strict routine. It's the fact that he is still growing, and so too the joints, ligaments, muscles, I would presume? They will be taking strain, I can assure you. I know of a good few guys who picked up chronic wrist problems. The thing is, we were using lighter bats, playing far less cricket. He is still growing, which needs to be remembered. Today's training and recovery methods will help, but I do fear for his long-term future and health,” Cullinan added.

Sooryavanshi remains uncapped and was left out of both matches of India's 2-0 T20I series defeat to Ireland in Belfast last week. He is part of India's squad for the five-match T20I series against England, which began at Chester-le-Street on Wednesday, July 1, with further games at Old Trafford, Trent Bridge, Bristol and Southampton through Saturday, July 11.