Former India women's team head coach WV Raman has sparked a significant debate in Indian cricketing circles by suggesting that teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's participation in the U19 World Cup could be 'detrimental to his growth'. Raman expressed this 'unpopular opinion' on social media, emphasizing that while Sooryavanshi is undoubtedly talented and capable of excelling at the U19 level, stakeholders should focus on the 'bigger picture' for his long-term development. Sooryavanshi, currently 14 years old, has garnered considerable attention for his precocious talent. He made his U19 World Cup debut at just 14 years and 294 days, making him the youngest Indian to play in the tournament. Prior to this, he had already made a name for himself in more senior competitions, including an impressive debut in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Rajasthan Royals, where he became the youngest Indian to score a century. He has also represented India A in matches, performing 'extremely well' in both the IPL and A series, according to Raman. The young batter had a quiet start to his U19 World Cup campaign, scoring just 2 runs off 4 balls against the USA in India's opening match, which India won by six wickets via the DLS method. Raman's comments have fueled a broader discussion about whether exceptionally gifted young players should follow a customized developmental pathway rather than strictly adhering to traditional age-group progression, especially when they have already proven themselves at higher levels of the game. This story highlights the ongoing discourse within Indian cricket regarding nurturing prodigious talent.