Australia legend Matthew Hayden has warned young cricketers not to blindly copy 15-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's ultra-aggressive batting style.
Hayden questioned if the teen's "attack at all costs" approach is sustainable over a long career and urged players to develop their own natural identities.
Hayden, who saw Sooryavanshi’s heroics in the IPL 2026 while sitting in the Gujarat Titans dugout, highlighted that the teenager and Shubman Gill represent two entirely different but successful approaches to T20 cricket.
"We are talking about two very unique personalities. Can both (Gill's and Sooryavanshi's) styles exist? Absolutely. They already do. The challenge for any youngster watching someone like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is whether that style can be sustained over a long period," Hayden told PTI in an exclusive chat.
"Shubman Gill has already shown that it can be done with consistency at the international level, and for me, international cricket remains the premium standard.
"Just as we see footballers like Lionel Messi represent both club and country successfully, there is room for different approaches in cricket," he explained.
Hayden advised youngsters to look at their own instincts instead of aping others. "I strongly believe in helping players find their own inner warrior. Sooryavanshi and Shubman Gill are completely different personalities with different backgrounds and different journeys.
"That's the beauty of cricket. It's a skill-based game, and every player arrives with unique technical strengths and experiences," he remarked.
Hayden cited the example of his own career, where he admired Brian Lara but developed a unique, aggressive style that fit his own background.
"I grew up admiring Brian Lara, but I wasn't Brian Lara. I wasn't West Indian either. I grew up in regional Queensland, where sport was central to everyday life.
"I developed my own game based on my instincts, and that eventually allowed me to become one of the best players in the world."
"Sport is full of unique personalities. There will never be another Jonah Lomu (the rugby great), another Lionel Messi or another Kelly Slater (surfer).
"As coaches, our job is to discover those players, nurture their individuality and make sure their development is sustainable," he concluded.
(With PTI Inputs)
