The cricketing world is buzzing after 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi etched his name into the history books by becoming the youngest player to score a century in the IPL. Naturally, such a prodigious feat has drawn comparisons with none other than Sachin Tendulkar, who also rose to stardom as a teenager. But Australian legend Steve Waugh has urged caution, insisting that comparisons with Tendulkar are neither fair nor realistic.

Speaking at an event in Mumbai, Waugh reflected on Tendulkar’s iconic 114 at the WACA in Perth in 1992—a knock he believes was one of the most extraordinary displays ever by a young cricketer.

“I don’t think anyone should be compared to Sachin Tendulkar,” Steve Waugh said. “That hundred in Perth, at a time when it was considered the toughest pitch in the world, was a freakish achievement. Most players struggle there, even seasoned ones. For a teenager to conquer that surface speaks volumes about his greatness.”

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Sachin Tendulkar, who remains international cricket’s highest run-scorer, was only 18 at the time of that memorable knock. Waugh noted that even today, he can’t fathom a 14-year-old pulling off something as impactful.

“It’s still unthinkable. I look back at myself at 14 and I couldn’t have imagined being in that kind of pressure and succeeding. What Vaibhav did in the IPL was remarkable.”

However, Waugh also stressed that the journey ahead for Suryavanshi is just beginning. “The big question now is: can he sustain this? Can he play with the same freedom, the same passion, and the same mental strength going forward? If he can, then we might just be watching the start of something special.”

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He added, “Vaibhav has a great backstory, and you always want players like him to succeed. It’s a beautiful story for cricket and one that inspires fans across generations.”