Former India captain Kapil Dev has compared teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to a young Sachin Tendulkar, praising the left-hander’s exceptional talent while urging fans and experts not to burden him with unrealistic expectations too early in his career. Sooryavanshi has rapidly emerged as one of the most exciting prospects in world cricket. After a remarkable run of performances across domestic, age-group and franchise cricket, the 15-year-old earned his maiden India call-up for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England.

His rise has naturally invited comparisons with Tendulkar, who made his international debut at just 16 years of age before becoming one of cricket’s greatest-ever batters. Speaking to The Indian Express, Kapil Dev acknowledged the similarities between the two prodigies but stressed that longevity, not early success, ultimately defines greatness.

“Vaibhav is too young. But yes, he is a special talent and full stop,” Kapil said. “He is a 16-year-old kid and everything he has is only cricket. Once he reaches 20-22, we will judge. But no doubt his talent is extraordinary,” he added.

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The 1983 World Cup-winning captain went on to draw a direct comparison with Tendulkar’s early years while highlighting the challenges that lie ahead. “He is like Sachin at the age of 16 but can he play that long? He had to go a long way,” Kapil remarked.

The comparison comes at a time when excitement surrounding Sooryavanshi continues to grow across Indian cricket. Nearly four decades after Tendulkar’s debut as a teenager, the youngster is now on the verge of becoming the youngest player to represent India at the international level.

Although Sooryavanshi endured a mixed campaign during the recent tri-nation series in Sri Lanka, he silenced critics with a breathtaking 94 off just 29 balls in the final, helping India A clinch the title. The explosive knock further strengthened his case ahead of the Ireland and England tour.

Kapil Dev, however, believes the focus should remain on the collective success of the Indian team rather than a single player. “I should say good luck to the Indian team. It’s not just to him but to the whole Indian team and every player. And he is part of that,” he said.

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Adding to the emotion of his breakthrough year, Sooryavanshi recently received his first India jersey, a milestone moment in what is shaping up to be a remarkable cricketing journey.