India’s rising star Vaibhav Suryavanshi can eventually break the records of modern legends Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar, former South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn has dared.
Steyn, who faced both Indian giants in his international career, suggested the teenage prodigy could “burst” on the world stage and end up with a greater overall impact than the two icons combined.
Suryavanshi has been one of the standouts in the Indian Premier League 2026 season and has delivered a series of eye-catching performances that have earned him the Orange Cap along with several individual honours.
His rapid rise led to a first call-up to the Indian squad for the upcoming T20I assignments against Ireland and England and selection in the Asian Games squad.
Speaking during an interaction ahead of Season 5 of SA20, Steyn praised the youngster’s exceptional talent and maturity, noting that he has already stood out at the international level.
“You think of Sachin, Virat, this kid is going to explode. He’s going to be bigger than both of them at the end of his career,” Steyn said during the SA20 media briefing ahead of Season 5.
Steyn, who now works as an analyst, reflected on the youth development in South Africa, and while the country continues to produce talented cricketers, some compare the current impact to Suriyawanshi.
I don’t think there is a 14- or 15-year-old prodigy in South Africa right now. If there is, I don’t know about him. I don’t have finger tips like some local scouts do. But I will say one thing, there is no shortage of talent in South Africa. School round,” Stein said.
“Vaibhav Suryavanshi is a different mixture. He is better than most international players now. He is a genuine guy and a treasure for Indian cricket,” he added.
However, Steyn urged caution over the youngster’s rapid rise, warning that poor management could hamper his long-term development.
“So I’ll be very careful how he’s managed and looked after. With great responsibility comes great reward, but there’s also the risk that you could lose him along the way if he’s not managed properly,” he said.
“For South Africa, we don’t have a 14- or 15-year-old right now, but we have some exceptional talent, including a lot of players in their twenties, who will be representing South Africa in the years to come,” he added.
Suryavanshi scored a 35-ball century for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL last year, becoming the youngest player to be selected for the Indian men’s cricket team since Sachin Tendulkar in the late 1980s.
To date, he has played 34 T20Is, scoring 1,477 runs at an average of 44.75 and a strike rate of 220.44, including four centuries and six fifties.
In the recent IPL season, he finished as the leading run-scorer with 776 runs in 16 innings at an average of 48.50 and a strike rate of 237.30, registering a century and five half-centuries to further strengthen his case for national selection.