Former India captain Kapil Dev compared Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to Sachin Tendulkar ahead of India’s upcoming T20I series against Ireland. While praising the teenager’s exceptional talent, Kapil said the bigger challenge would be maintaining consistency and having a long international career like Tendulkar’s.
The 15-year-old batter from Bihar recently joined the Indian squad in Belfast for the upcoming two-match T20I series, which begins on Friday, July 26. Sooryavanshi is widely expected to make his international debut during the tour and could become India’s youngest male cricketer to play at the senior level.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Is Like Sachin Tendulkar at the Age of 16 – Kapil Dev
During the Chandigarh Premier League, Kapil Dev said that it is too early to judge Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s future. Kapil also said the youngster has exceptional ability, but matching Sachin Tendulkar’s long and successful international career will require sustained performances over many years.
“Vaibhav is too young. But yes, he is a special talent and full stop. He is a 16-year-old kid and everything he has is only cricket. Once he reaches 20-22, we will judge,” Kapil Dev told The Indian Express on Tuesday.
“But no doubt his talent is extraordinary. He is like Sachin at the age of 16, but can he play that long? He has a long way to go,” Kapil Dev added.
Kapil urged fans and the media to focus on the entire Indian team rather than one player. The 1983 World Cup-winning captain wished the squad well for the Ireland tour.
“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,” Kapil Dev said.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Set to Break Sachin Tendulkar’s Long-Standing India Record
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is on the verge of breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record as India’s youngest men’s international debutant. The selectors included the explosive left-hander in the squads for the upcoming T20I tours of Ireland and England after his outstanding performances in domestic cricket and franchise leagues.
India’s European tour begins with two T20Is against Ireland in Belfast on June 26 and 28. The team will then travel to England for a five-match T20I series scheduled from July 1 to July 11, giving Sooryavanshi a strong chance to make his international debut.
The BCCI recently shared a video of the youngster receiving and opening his first senior India kit. Sooryavanshi received his maiden national jersey during the India A tour of Sri Lanka.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s Record-Breaking IPL Season
Sooryavanshi earned national attention after a remarkable IPL 2026 season with the Rajasthan Royals. He won the Orange Cap after scoring 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30 and became the first uncapped player in IPL history to score more than 700 runs in a single season. He also won the Most Valuable Player award.
The youngster also impressed for India A in the recent tri-series final against Sri Lanka A. He smashed 94 off just 29 balls and recorded an 11-ball half-century, the fastest fifty in List A cricket history. His innings played a key role in India’s victory.
In 34 T20 matches, he has scored 1,477 runs at an average of 44.75 and a strike rate of 220.44. His performances have made him one of the most exciting young batters in Indian cricket and a strong contender for a long international career.
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Author: Sai Vaitla
