Vaibhav Sooryavanshi As Talented As Virat Kohli, Tendulkar; Believes World Cup Winner

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi compared with Kohli, Tendulkar [Source: AFP]

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues to garner much admiration from fans and cricket experts. After winning the coveted ‘Orange Cap’ in the IPL 2026 season, the 15-year-old was rewarded with a place in the Indian national squad for the T20I tours of Ireland and England.

While Sooryavanshi failed to make his international debut in Ireland last week, fans all over the world are now eagerly waiting for the youngster to receive his maiden India cap at some stage during the five-match T20I series against England away from home. 

Ahead of his potential Team India debut, the Rajasthan Royals opener has received the backing of none other than former all-rounder and World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev.

Kapil Dev compares Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar

While speaking with Vikrant Gupta on Sports Tak, former Indian captain Kapil Dev praised Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as the youngster braces himself up for a possible international debut in the ongoing five-match T20I tour of England. 

The World Cup winning skipper even claimed that Sooryavanshi is just as talented as fellow Indian batting greats like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. However, the legendary all-rounder also added that Vaibhav is yet to prove himself in formats other than T20 cricket. 

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Kapil further stated that at the moment, there is more hype around the young opener than Sachin used to have during his teenage days back in the late-1980s. 

He said “Sooryavanshi is as talented as Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar. There is more hype around Vaibhav than Sachin Tendulkar in his younger days.”

Contrary to Kapil Dev’s claims, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has also proven his formidability in 50-overs cricket. The youngster blasted a record 190 off just 84 balls for the Bihar cricket team last year. He also drove Team India to a historic 2026 ICC U19 World Cup win in Zimbabwe, smearing a match-winning 175 in the final. 

Just last month, the blistering left-hander smothered Sri Lanka A bowlers with a scorching 29-ball 94 in the final of the ‘A Team’ 50-overs tri-series. 

Kapil Dev urges fans to refrain putting pressure, calls for debut

Kapil Dev also urged fans to “not overhype” Vaibhav Sooryavanshi at such a young age, considering it will only put undue pressure at the prodigious batting talent. 

The former all-rounder further requested the Indian team management to stop delaying Sooryavanshi’s debut, and compared his situation with Sachin Tendulkar back in 1989 who received his maiden cap as a teenager. 

Vikrant Gupta

@vikrantgupta73

Kapil Dev on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: * Sooryavanshi is as talented as Virat and Sachin * There is more hype around Vaibhav than Sachin (1988-89) * Is it too early? I would rather ask, is it too late for him to make India debut * But don’t over hype and put undue pressure on Full

Jul 3, 2026, 4:37 PM

BCCI ends silence on Sooryavanshi snub

Earlier, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla defended the Indian team management and selectors after they received much criticism from fans for delaying the international debut of young Sooryavanshi.

Shukla said that Sooryavanshi’s selection in the squad itself indicates that the management rates him highly. 

As of now, it remains to be seen if the 15-year-old will make his international debut in the ongoing T20I series in England or not. 

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