Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has urged fans and experts to avoid comparing teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, stressing that the young Rajasthan Royals star should not be burdened with unrealistic expectations so early in his career. Sooryavanshi has emerged as one of the breakout stars of IPL 2026 with his fearless batting and remarkable consistency at the top of the order.

The 15-year-old left-handed opener has scored 579 runs in 13 matches and currently boasts a staggering strike rate of 236.32, making him one of the most destructive batters in the tournament. Speaking on the Quest Talk podcast by iQOO, Karthik acknowledged the youngster’s extraordinary talent but warned against placing him in the same conversation as Sachin Tendulkar at such an early stage.

“What Vaibhav is doing is very special, but what I don’t want people to do is tag him as the next Sachin because he is just 15 years old,” Dinesh Karthik said.

ALSO READ: Pat Cummins Reaffirms Australia and Test Cricket As Top Priority Despite SRH Success

The former India cricketer explained that while Tendulkar’s achievements were historic, the challenges facing modern-day young cricketers are entirely different, especially in the age of social media and constant public scrutiny.

“I think what Sachin did was extraordinary. Vaibhav’s challenges will be completely different,” Dinesh Karthik added. According to Karthik, today’s teenage cricketers face immense off-field pressure despite their exceptional on-field talent. “Sachin’s challenges were both on and off the field, but Vaibhav’s challenges will probably be even more off the field because of the amount of attention and expectations that come with modern cricket,” he said.

Sooryavanshi has already impressed cricket fans with his aggressive strokeplay against elite bowlers and is widely regarded as one of India’s brightest future stars. His fearless approach and ability to dominate experienced attacks have made him one of the biggest talking points of IPL 2026.

Karthik also reflected on how the IPL has evolved since its launch in 2008, calling it a completely different sporting ecosystem today.

ALSO READ: Mohammad Kaif Hails Shubman Gill’s Captaincy After GT’s Dominant Win Over CSK

“The IPL has become a massive platform. The amount of data, analysis, and professionalism involved now is unbelievable. It has grown at an incredible pace and has become a genuine career opportunity for young cricketers,” Dinesh Karthik said. Currently serving as batting coach and mentor of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Karthik added that the IPL now competes with some of the biggest sporting leagues in the world in terms of popularity and impact.