Kapil Dev Talks Up Young Star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
India’s legendary World Cup captain, Kapil Dev, has recently shared his admiration for rising cricket star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. He sees a spark of brilliance in the 15-year-old, likening his raw talent to that of iconic players like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. However, Kapil urged fans and media to manage their expectations, emphasizing the importance of allowing the young cricketer time to develop before making judgments about his future.
Based in Bihar, Sooryavanshi has quickly made a name for himself in the cricketing world. He stole the spotlight by becoming the youngest player to debut in the IPL for Rajasthan Royals, showcasing his fearless batting style that has left many impressed.
In the recently concluded IPL 2025, he scored 252 runs in just seven matches, boasting an average of 36 with an impressive strike rate surpassing 206. He continued his standout performance into IPL 2026, where he became the leading run-scorer, earning the prestigious Orange Cap. His remarkable achievements led to a call-up for the Indian team for the T20I series against Ireland and England.
While speaking to Sports Tak, Kapil admitted he has only seen snippets of Sooryavanshi’s play but remains confident in his enormous potential.
“I’ve only caught bits of his games, but there’s no doubt he’s a massive talent. However, there’s a lot of buzz around him right now. Let’s give him some space and time. At his age, he might not even fully grasp what he’s capable of,” Kapil remarked.
Kapil Highlights the Need for Proving Himself
Kapil also noted that while Sooryavanshi has shown incredible flair in T20 cricket, the real test lies in other formats. He emphasized that the teenager must demonstrate his ability beyond the shortest format to truly prove himself.
“In terms of sheer talent, he’s on par with Sachin and Virat Kohli—no doubt about it. But T20 cricket is just one aspect. In formats like Test cricket, he still has to show what he can do. How will he handle a long innings against a challenging bowler? That’s the real question,” Kapil added.
The former captain reaffirmed that excelling in T20 alone doesn’t make a complete player; success in longer formats demands a different approach and mindset.
“Players like Virender Sehwag may see things differently, but that’s cricket for you. Sooryavanshi has been fantastic in T20 matches. Achieving such an impact at such a young age is rare,” he concluded.
Currently, Sooryavanshi is with the Indian team in the UK. Unfortunately, he didn’t play in the recent T20I series against Ireland and was also not included in the opening T20I against England at Chester-le-Street.
Published on: July 3, 2026
