There is growing buzz around Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ahead of India’s second T20I against England in Manchester, with fans eagerly waiting to see whether the 15-year-old will finally get his India cap. But former India captain Kapil Dev has urged caution, saying the hype around the teenage batter has already gone too far and could become counterproductive if it adds pressure too early in his career.
Kapil Dev believes Sooryavanshi is an exceptional talent, but one who must be protected and developed away from constant outside noise. In his view, a player of such promise needs time, space and sensible guidance rather than endless comparisons and expectation-building. The legendary all-rounder also warned that too much attention at this age can affect a youngster’s natural game, especially when he is still trying to understand what international cricket demands.
“Vaibhav is one of the finest talents in the world. Don’t hype him that much and put him under too much pressure. At this young age, you don’t even know what is right or wrong. He is as talented as Sachin Tendulkar or Virat Kohli but in T20s,” Kapil Dev said on a SportsTak podcast.
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Sooryavanshi’s rise has been rapid, with his performances for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026 and his recent involvement with India A pushing him into the spotlight. Several former cricketers have already argued that India should hand him a debut soon, especially with the excitement around his fearless strokeplay and natural power at the top of the order.
DON’T HYPE VAIBHAV SOORYAVANSHI TOO MUCH – KAPIL DEV🤯
– Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is one of the finest talents in the world
– Don’t hype him that much & put him under too much pressure
– At this young age, you even don’t know what is right or wrong
– He is as much talented as… pic.twitter.com/rZjuWi59np— Akshat (@Akshatgoel1408) July 3, 2026
Kapil Dev, however, feels it is important not to rush the process. The 1983 World Cup-winning captain said that while a debut may be justified if the youngster is ready, the final judgment should be based on ability and temperament rather than age alone. He also suggested that Test cricket will eventually reveal a great deal about Sooryavanshi’s long-term potential, because the format will test his patience, technique and mental strength in ways T20 cricket cannot.
“If he is ready, then he should be playing because sometimes we think that this is the peak of a batter, so why delay everything? He will have to prove his mettle in Test cricket as well; he is a fabulous T20 batter, we all know. There will be tough times as well, but it will be great to see how this talented young kid handles all these situations in his career,” he added.
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Kapil Dev also referred to Sachin Tendulkar’s international debut at 16, using it as an example of how talent, not age, should decide selection. His message to the Indian team management was clear: if Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is ready, play him. If not, let his development continue without unnecessary pressure.
