Shield for Vaibhav: Establishment trying to create safety net for 14-year-old sensation

"My mother died and I couldn't handle the circumstances. Just that,” Sadanand Viswanath's voice suddenly became emotional as his co-passengers in a second AC train compartment, which included an American tourist, a cricket reporter and a young businessman, heard in rapt attention.

- KUSHAN SARKAR

It was a journey from Gwalior to Delhi after the completion of a Ranji match and Viswanath, then a domestic umpire, got talking about his brief but eventful international career of three Tests and 22 ODIs. His finest hour was a stumping of JavedMiandad off another teenage prodigy LaxmanSivaramakrishnan’s bowling.

‘Siva’ (then 18) and Viswanath (22 at the time) crash-landed on the TV screens of Indian drawing rooms during the spring of 1985 and before the autumn of 1986, the talented duo had fallen by the wayside.

They were "kids" back then, who perhaps needed a supportive shoulder and people around them to provide sane advice.

More than a decade later, VinodKambli, after back to back Test double tons, suddenly lost his way and stories of indiscipline, instead of his rasping slashes over point, flew around at speed of knots.

Perhaps, none of them had a well-intentioned man of honour and integrity like 14-year-old VaibhavSuryavanshi has in Rajasthan Royals’ head coach Rahul Dravid.

Bihar Cricket Association president RakeshTiwary, along with the Rajasthan Royals management, Dravid and Vaibhav's father Sanjiv, are trying to create a safety net around the teenager, whose life has changed after becoming the youngest ever centurion in IPL's history.

"Rahul Dravid sir has taken Vaibhav under his wings and he has spoken to his parents and also BCA president RakeshTiwaryji. Vaibhav's parents have been told to pay heed to any advice that comes from Dravid sir regarding the development of their child.