NEW DELHI: India legend Kapil Dev has praised teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, calling him a “special talent,” while cautioning that the real test of the 15-year-old’s career still lies years ahead.
Sooryavanshi, who has become one of the most talked-about young cricketers in the world, is on the verge of a potential senior India debut during the upcoming T20I series in Ireland. The prodigy has already triggered huge excitement, but Kapil believes patience will be key in judging his long-term success.
“Vaibhav is too young. But yes, he is a special talent and full stop. He is a 16-year-old [15-year-old] kid and everything he has is only cricket. Once he reaches 20-22, we will judge. But no doubt his talent is extraordinary. He is like Sachin at the age of 16 but can he play that long? He had to go a long way,” Kapil told The Indian Express.
‘Like Sachin at 16’: Rise of a record-breaking prodigy
Sooryavanshi’s rise has been meteoric. He first grabbed global attention with a stunning 175 in the Under-19 World Cup final, guiding India to the title. He then carried that form into the IPL 2026, where he amassed 776 runs to win the Orange Cap and became the youngest player ever to achieve the feat.
The left-hander’s performances across age-group, domestic, and IPL cricket earned him a maiden senior India call-up. He became the youngest player selected in India’s men’s squad, surpassing a long-standing benchmark associated with Sachin Tendulkar.
Tendulkar made his international debut in 1989 at 16 years and 205 days, and Sooryavanshi now stands on the brink of potentially becoming India’s youngest-ever men’s international cricketer if he features in the upcoming series.
Despite the hype, Kapil extended his best wishes to the team rather than focusing solely on the youngster.
“I should say good luck to the Indian team. It’s not just to him but to the whole Indian team and every player. And he is part of that,” he said.
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‘Words cannot explain it’
Sooryavanshi recently received his maiden India jersey in an emotional moment, calling it a dream come true. “Words cannot explain it… I truly cannot put this feeling into words,” he said in a video shared by the BCCI.
