Former India captain Kapil Dev has shared his thoughts on rising cricket star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, urging fans and experts to avoid placing too much pressure on the 15-year-old despite his remarkable talent. While comparing the youngster’s natural ability to that of legends Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, Kapil Dev stressed that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi still has a long journey ahead and should be allowed to develop at his own pace.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has become one of the most talked-about young cricketers after earning a place in India’s T20I squads for the Ireland and England series. His selection came on the back of a record-breaking IPL 2026 campaign. However, the teenage opener is yet to make his international debut. He remained on the bench throughout the Ireland series and was once again left out of the rain-affected first T20I against England.
His absence from the playing XI has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with many fans calling for out-of-form Sanju Samson to be replaced by the young batter.
Speaking about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Kapil Dev said he has seen enough to recognise the youngster’s immense potential but believes the excitement surrounding him has become excessive. According to the 1983 World Cup-winning captain, the teenager is undoubtedly gifted but expectations should be kept realistic because of his age and limited experience. He said young players need time to learn and grow instead of being burdened by constant comparisons and public pressure.
Kapil Dev also made a striking comparison, saying that in terms of raw talent, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi possesses the kind of ability seen in players like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. However, he clarified that this assessment is based on the youngster’s performances in T20 cricket. He added that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi still has to prove himself in One-Day Internationals and Test cricket before he can be judged alongside the game’s greatest players across formats.
Although he is still waiting for his India debut, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has already shown signs that he can succeed beyond T20 cricket. During the India A series in Sri Lanka, the left-handed opener impressed with his performances in the 50-over format, suggesting that his game may be suited to multiple formats in the future.
Despite calling for patience, Kapil Dev made it clear that age should not become a barrier if a player is ready for international cricket. He pointed out that very few youngsters have made such an impact at such an early stage of their careers. Drawing a parallel with Sachin Tendulkar who also debuted at a young age, Kapil Dev said selectors should focus on a player’s ability rather than the number of years they have lived. He further added that waiting too long can sometimes be a bigger mistake than giving a deserving youngster an early opportunity.
India and England will meet in the second T20I of the five-match series on Saturday, with fans continuing to wait and see whether Vaibhav Sooryavanshi finally gets the chance to make his much-anticipated international debut.
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