'He Is Like Sachin At 16': Kapil Dev's Assessment Of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Says Everything

As Vaibhav Sooryavanshi prepares for what is widely expected to be his India debut on the upcoming tour of Ireland, comparisons with some of Indian cricket's greatest talents have already begun.

Among those drawing parallels is 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev, who likened the 15-year-old batting sensation to a young Sachin Tendulkar while cautioning against judging him too early.

"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. Once he reaches 20-22, we will judge. 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 told The Indian Express in Panchkula.

The comparison carries added significance given Kapil was the Player of the Match in November 1989 when a 16-year-old Tendulkar made his international debut for India against Pakistan. More than three decades later, Sooryavanshi is set to break Tendulkar's long-standing record as India's youngest men's international cricketer if he takes the field during the Ireland series.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi growth unlike any other

Few youngsters have forced their way into national selection as emphatically as Sooryavanshi.

The left-hander first grabbed global attention by smashing 175 in the Under-19 World Cup final earlier this year, powering India to the title with the highest individual score in the history of the tournament final.

He then followed it up with a record-breaking IPL season for Rajasthan Royals.

Sooryavanshi amassed 776 runs in 16 innings at a staggering strike rate of 237.30, becoming the first uncapped player to score more than 700 runs in a single IPL season. He also became the youngest player to score an IPL century and finished the campaign with the Orange Cap, Emerging Player award and Most Valuable Player honours.

Earlier this month, he added another record to his growing collection by smashing an 11-ball half-century against Sri Lanka A in the tri-series final, the fastest fifty recorded in a recognised 50-over match.

'Good luck to the Indian team'

While much of the attention surrounding the Ireland tour has centred on Sooryavanshi, Kapil stressed that his wishes extend to the entire squad rather than one individual.

"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," Kapil said.

The teenager was officially unveiled in India's colours on Monday after arriving in Ireland with the squad.

In a video shared by the BCCI, Sooryavanshi admitted he was overwhelmed after seeing his name on an India jersey for the first time.

"Words cannot explain it. The reason I picked up the bat from day one and went to the ground for practice, that dream has now been fulfilled. The biggest step in that journey was completed today. I truly cannot put this feeling into words," he said.

India's newest prodigy set for next step

Sooryavanshi's selection for both the Ireland and England T20I tours, as well as India's Asian Games squad, underlines the faith the selectors have placed in him.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar recently described the youngster as a "game-changer" after his remarkable performances across formats.

For now, though, Kapil's message is one of patience.

The talent is undeniable. The records are already extraordinary.

But as Indian cricket learned with Tendulkar all those years ago, the true measure of greatness is not how quickly a player arrives - but how long they stay at the top.