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Question to Manu Bhaker About Teen Cricketer Draws Fire Over Cricket-First Coverage

The viral exchange sharpened scrutiny of cricket-first sports coverage in India.

Overview

  • Bhaker, speaking at the NRAI 75th anniversary in Delhi on Monday, answered a question about 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi by saying with the right mentorship he could be the next big star, in a clip amplified by PTI and ANI.
  • The framing set off heavy criticism online, with fans and voices like Joy Bhattacharjya saying it sidelined her Olympic medals and reflected a cricket-centric media habit.
  • As the discussion rolled on, Bhaker marked 10 years in shooting on Tuesday with a post recounting early highs, near-misses, and how setbacks shaped her rise.
  • She also refocused attention on upcoming goals, pointing to the Asian Games, the World Championships, and the start of the 2028 Olympic qualifying cycle.
  • Sooryavanshi’s rise remains context for the media interest, with IPL hundreds, a record U19 World Cup spree, and the mark of being the youngest to 1,000 T20 runs driving his profile.