Former India captain and World Cup-winning legend Kapil Dev has praised teenage batting prodigy Vaibhav Suriyavanshi, describing him as a special talent, while cautioning against prejudging his long-term career.
Suryavanshi has enjoyed a remarkable rise over the past year and is now on the verge of making his senior India debut after being named in the squad for the upcoming T20I tour of Ireland.
The 15-year-old’s rapid rise inevitably draws comparisons with batting great Sachin Tendulkar, who burst onto the international stage at a young age and became one of the greatest batsmen in the history of the game.
While Kapil acknowledged the youngster’s immense potential, he insisted that a true assessment of Sooryavanshi’s career can be made only after he reaches the next stage of his development.
“Vaibhav is very young. But yes, he is a special talent, full stop. He is a 16-year-old kid and everything for him is cricket. Once he reaches 20-22, we will judge. No doubt his talent is extraordinary. He looks like Sachin at 16, but can he go further?” Dev said.
The young man’s journey in recent months has not been unusual. He first grabbed the headlines with a match-winning 175 in the U-19 World Cup final, guiding India to the title and cementing his reputation as one of the country’s brightest prospects.
His brilliant form continued in the Indian Premier League where he emerged as one of the best players for Rajasthan Royals.
The teenage batsman scored 776 runs to win the Orange Cap, becoming the youngest player in IPL history to achieve the feat. He broke Chris Gayle’s record for most sixes in a single IPL season and rewrote the record books.
Suryavanshi’s brilliant performance eventually earned him his first senior Indian call-up. He has been included in India’s T20I squad for the Ireland and England series, marking another significant milestone in his fast-growing career.
Before getting the national call-up, the young player had a disappointing tri-series in Sri Lanka. However, he calmed concerns about his form with a 94 in the final, underlining his ability to respond strongly under pressure.