Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is only 15, yet he is already being spoken about in the same breath as Sachin Tendulkar. The teenage prodigy has become the youngest male cricketer to earn an India call-up for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England, and if he goes on to make his debut, he will break Tendulkar’s long-standing record as the youngest player to represent India in men’s cricket.

Even with that milestone within reach, former World Cup winner Krishnamachari Srikkanth has urged everyone to slow down the comparisons. In his view, Tendulkar remains in a class of his own, and Sooryavanshi should be allowed to grow without being burdened by unrealistic expectations.

“Let’s not compare Sachin and Sooryavanshi,” Kris Srikkanth told PTI. “Sachin is God of cricket and this boy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, I believe is the son of God. Let’s put it that way. Just leave Sachin alone. Nobody can come near him.”

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At the same time, Kris Srikkanth was full of praise for the youngster’s talent and temperament. He believes Sooryavanshi has the kind of skill set that can change games on his own, but feels the teenager needs time, patience and the right environment to develop properly at the international level.

“That boy needs a lot of time. You give him lot of encouragement. He is a guy who can win matches single-handed. So, I believe that he should be given a very, very, very long rope,” the former India captain said. “And I don’t think you should mess up with him. Let’s mould him beautifully. And if you give him ample chances and if you mould him well, he will be simply outstanding for Indian cricket,” he added.

Srikkanth also backed Sooryavanshi’s inclusion in the India T20I setup, but made it clear that the immediate focus should be on exposure rather than a guaranteed place in the playing XI. In his opinion, the teenager should spend time with the squad, watch how senior players operate and get used to the demands of international cricket before being pushed into action too quickly.

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“For the England series, let him be in the reserves. Let him understand this is international cricket. I believe that he should remain with the team, even if he doesn’t have a place in the XI because Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma are playing, they are the certainties,” he said. “I don’t think you should look at lesser teams or bigger teams. End of the day, it’s trial by fire. If he has to play against England, let him play against England. Against Ireland, let him play against Ireland. You don’t need to push him hard. Let him get chances to play his natural game,” he added.

For Kris Srikkanth, the message is simple: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is special, but Indian cricket must protect and shape that talent with care.