Ex-India Cricketer Sets Challenge For Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: 'He Is Too Young But...'

Former Indian cricketer Kapil Dev has said that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is just a teenager and the only thing he needs to focus on now is his cricket, but his tenacity can only be judged if he goes on to play similarly five to six years from now, although the former captain commented that he is an extraordinary talent.

At such a young age, Vaibhav has already taken world cricket by storm, but Kapil believes his real test will come a few years down the line, when he enters his early 20s. Vaibhav is often compared to batting great Sachin Tendulkar, regarded as one of the finest and most complete batters in the history of the game and not without reason.

Like Vaibhav, Tendulkar rose to prominence as a teenage prodigy after making his international debut

at the age of 16. Now, 37 years later, with the former on the verge of breaking Tendulkar’s record as India’s youngest international player, Kapil has added further intrigue to the moment by issuing a challenge of sorts.

“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,” Kapil said while speaking to The Indian Express.

“He is like Sachin at the age of 16, but can he play that long? He has to go a long way,” Kapil added.

The past few months have been brilliant for Vaibhav. He burst onto the scene with a brilliant 175 in the U19 World Cup final, powering India to the title. Later, when it appeared that bowlers had started to decode his game in the IPL, he responded emphatically.

Sooryavanshi ended the season with 776 runs to claim the Orange Cap, becoming the youngest cricketer ever to achieve the feat.