'His talent is extraordinary': World Cup-winning India captain hails Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's rise

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's meteoric rise in Indian cricket continues to draw admiration from some of the biggest names in the sport. The latest to heap praise on the teenage sensation is former India captain Kapil Dev, who compared the youngster's talent to that of a young Sachin Tendulkar while urging fans and experts to remain patient with his development.

The 15-year-old batter is on the verge of making his international debut after earning a place in India's T20I squads for the upcoming tours of Ireland and England. His rapid ascent through the ranks has made him one of the most talked-about prospects in Indian cricket.

Kapil Dev compares youngster to a teenage Sachin Tendulkar

Speaking about Sooryavanshi's emergence, Dev acknowledged the immense potential the youngster possesses but cautioned against burdening him with expectations at such an early stage of his career.

"Vaibhav is too young. But yes, he is a special talent and full stop. He is a 16-year-old kid and everything he has is only cricket."

The 1983 World Cup-winning captain went on to draw parallels with Tendulkar's early years, highlighting the teenager's extraordinary ability while stressing that longevity would ultimately define his success.

"But no doubt his talent is extraordinary. He is like Sachin at the age of 16 but can he play that long? He had to go a long way."

Kapil Dev's remarks come as comparisons between Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and some of India's greatest batters continue to gather momentum following the youngster's impressive performances at various levels.

India call-up caps remarkable rise

Sooryavanshi earned his maiden national call-up after consistently delivering in domestic and age-group cricket. Although he endured a challenging tri-series campaign in Sri Lanka, the left-handed batter silenced critics with a brilliant 94 in the final.

That knock further strengthened his credentials ahead of India's white-ball assignments against Ireland and England, where he could become the youngest player to represent the country on the international stage.

The teenager's rise reached another milestone on Tuesday when he received his first India jersey, an emotional moment that reflected how quickly his career has progressed.

While the spotlight remains firmly on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Kapil Dev made it clear that he hopes the focus remains on the collective success of the Indian team rather than solely on one emerging star. For now, however, Indian cricket fans will be eagerly waiting to see whether the prodigy can translate his promise into success at the highest level.