Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has emerged as one of the biggest stars of the IPL 2026. At just 15 years old, the young batting sensation has impressed fans and experts alike with his fearless performances for Rajasthan Royals. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored 583 runs in 14 matches and played a major role in helping his team reach the playoffs.
Despite his success with the bat, the teenager has rarely been seen on the field because of the IPL’s Impact Player rule. The regulation allows teams to substitute players during a match, often limiting certain cricketers to only batting or bowling duties.
Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has now openly criticised the rule, saying it may negatively affect the long-term growth of young players like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. While speaking in an interview, Manjrekar questioned whether cricket is moving towards producing one-dimensional players instead of complete cricketers.
He explained that the rule prevents fans and teams from seeing every aspect of a player’s abilities. According to him, cricket should challenge players in multiple areas rather than allowing them to contribute briefly and then remain out of the game.
Sanjay Manjrekar also referred to Rohit Sharma’s recent appearance in an IPL match, where the Mumbai Indians batter scored 22 runs from just 15 balls before leaving the field. He argued that such short contributions raise concerns about the current structure of the tournament and whether it promotes sustainable player development.
The former cricketer stressed that judging players only on batting or bowling performances is not enough. In his view, a true cricketer should contribute in different departments, including fielding and overall match involvement.
To support his point, Sanjay Manjrekar mentioned former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, saying fans admired him not only for his batting but also because they regularly saw him fielding and participating throughout matches. He believes this gave people a better understanding of a player’s complete personality and skill set.
Sanjay Manjrekar concluded by saying that cricket should continue testing players in every aspect of the game. He added that if a player is a good bowler, fans should also be able to judge his fielding and overall impact rather than seeing only one isolated skill.
Do you agree with Sanjay Manjrekar? Let us know your views in this regard.
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