Indore: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Indore, has decided to carry out a study on teenage cricket sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi who emerged the top scorer in IPL 2026 with 776 runs in 16 innings at a remarkable strike rate of 237.30.
Researchers will try to figure out how early success, fame, and pressure influence the future of child prodigies.
Sooryavanshi emerged as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament and walked away with four other awards. His performance was appreciated by greats like Virat Kohli.
The study will go beyond cricketing achievements to explore deeper factors behind extraordinary performance, IIM Indore Director Himanshu Rai told PTI.
“We want to understand what factors drive the extraordinary performance of child prodigies. Personality, behaviour, and practice patterns, along with the support of parents, teachers, coaches, and seniors, are crucial for such performance,” Rai said.
While many young talents achieve early success, they often face challenges linked to fame and expectations, he further highlighted.
“In our study, we also want to look at how to deal with such expectations or obstacles,” Rai said.
Cricket’s immense popularity in India makes it a high-pressure sport, especially for young players, Rai explained. This made Sooryavanshi an ideal case study to examine how public scrutiny impacts rising stars.
The teenaged opener, who was born in Bihar, also broke Chris Gayle’s IPL record for most sixes in a season, smashing 72 maximums and surpassing the previous mark of 59.
What set him apart from others was his fearless approach, even against the top bowlers from across the world, including Jasprit Bumrah, Kagiso Rabada, and Pat Cummins.
The study will involve experts from multiple disciplines, including psychology, sociology, human resources, communication, and behavioural sciences. It is expected to begin within the next two weeks and conclude in about three months, as reported by The Economic Times.
The research will not be limited to sports, Rai emphasised. Its findings could also apply to young achievers in fields such as mathematics, science, and the arts.
The ultimate goal is to develop practical insights and policy recommendations that support the balanced and sustainable growth of young talent, he said.
The institute director said that results of the study will be submitted to academic journals and shared with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
