Former India captain Kapil Dev has urged caution over the growing hype around Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, saying the teenage prodigy needs time, space and patience as he prepares for the next big step in his career. With India’s men’s international setup now looking at the 15-year-old opener for upcoming white-ball assignments, Kapil believes the expectations around him must stay in check.

Sooryavanshi has already made history by becoming the youngest player ever picked in India’s men’s squad. At 15 years and 71 days, the left-hander went past Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing mark after earning a maiden T20I call-up for the Ireland and England tours, along with a place in the 2026 Asian Games squad. His rapid rise has made him one of the most talked-about young names in Indian cricket. Kapil, however, feels the youngster should be allowed to develop naturally.

“I think he is a special talent, but he has to go a long way. There is no doubt that at such a young age, the way he has performed in club cricket shows his ability. He just needs to focus on himself because he has a long journey ahead. At the moment, I think we are putting too much pressure on him,” Kapil Dev told IANS.

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Sooryavanshi’s selection did not come out of nowhere. The Rajasthan Royals opener was one of the biggest stories of IPL 2026, finishing as the Orange Cap winner with 776 runs in 16 innings at a staggering strike rate of 237.30. His season included a century, five half-centuries and a remarkable 72 sixes, making a strong case for higher honours.

If he gets a game during India’s white-ball tour, Sooryavanshi will become the youngest cricketer to represent India in men’s international cricket. Kapil Dev also highlighted the IPL’s growing influence on selection, calling it the most important tournament in the world and a major platform for identifying players ready for international cricket.

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“Definitely IPL is the most important tournament in the world, and with that, selectors must be watching who’s playing, you know, which type of cricket and the selectors have an option now. They have people there who can be fit in the team at the right place,” he said.