India, May 8 -- At 15, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is scoring runs and stirring debate. The Rajasthan Royals player's age is once again at the centre of conversation after a social activist called his association with IPL "child labour". But in a country where the 'god of cricket' Sachin Tendulkar made his international debut at 16, are such concerns valid? Amid the criticism, his coach Manish Ojha has come out strongly in his defence: "Vaibhav has already seen success that is not very common at his age. His age should not be a topic of discussion, only his performances... Sachin Tendulkar made his debut at 16, so why can't Vaibhav? In cricket, age is just a number; performance is what truly matters." Sooryavanshi is currently among the top five run-scorers of the ongoing IPL and recently helped India win the U-19 World Cup, facing some of the best bowlers in the world. Ojha adds, "He deserves to be an IPL star and is ready to play for India if the team management and selectors believe he has earned his place. What truly sets him apart is his constant desire to improve." While the left-handed batter has been dazzling on the field with his swashbuckling, sometimes arrogant stroke play, Ojha says he remains grounded off it, adding, "Even today, Vaibhav comes to train with me and touches my feet, has his head down, and listens to my advice. He has the world's top coaches around him, but when he is around me, I feel like his guru. I've seen this boy since he was 7. Fame, money, fandom will not change him!" Recalling their first meeting, Ojha says Sooryavanshi walked into his academy in Bihar with his father. "On my first day training him, I was bowling full-length balls and they were ending up being bouncers for him because he was tiny. And then, he started smashing bowlers older in age and more experienced all around the park! I knew we were watching something special. He used to come from far off, train the entire day, and then reach home post 10pm, but never complained."...