Former India captain Kapil Dev compared Vaibhav Suryavanshi to Sachin Tendulkar ahead of India’s upcoming T20 series against Ireland. Praising Kishore’s extraordinary talent, Kapil said the bigger challenge will be to maintain consistency and carve out a long international career like Tendulkar.
The 15-year-old batsman from Bihar recently joined the Indian team in Belfast for the upcoming two-match T20 series starting on Friday, July 26. Suryavanshi is widely expected to make his international debut during this tour and could become India’s youngest male cricketer to play at the senior level.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi is like Sachin Tendulkar at the age of 16 – Kapil Dev
During the Chandigarh Premier League, Kapil Dev said that it is too early to assess the future of Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Kapil also said that the youngster has extraordinary potential, but will require consistent performances over many years to match Sachin Tendulkar’s long and successful international career.
“Vaibhav is very young. But yes, he is a special talent and full stop. He is a 16-year-old kid and all he has is cricket. Once he turns 20-22, we will assess him,” Kapil Dev told The Indian Express on Tuesday.
Kapil Dev said, “But there is no doubt that his talent is extraordinary. He is like Sachin at the age of 16, but can he play for that long? He still has a long way to go.”
Kapil urged fans and media to focus on the entire Indian team rather than one player. The 1983 World Cup-winning captain wished the team all the best for the Ireland tour.
Kapil Dev said, “I must wish the Indian team all the best. It is not just for him but for the entire Indian team and every player. And he is a part of that.”
Vaibhav Suryavanshi is set to break Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing Indian record
Vaibhav Suryavanshi is on the verge of breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record as India’s youngest male international debutant. The selectors included the explosive left-hander in the squad for the upcoming T20I tours of Ireland and England following his excellent performances in domestic cricket and the franchise league.
India’s European tour begins with two T20Is against Ireland in Belfast on June 26 and 28. The team will then travel to England for a five-match T20I series from July 1 to July 11, giving Suryavanshi a strong opportunity to make her international debut.
BCCI recently shared a video of the young player receiving and unwrapping his first senior Indian kit. Suryavanshi got his first national jersey during India A’s tour of Sri Lanka.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s record breaking IPL season
Suryavanshi gained national attention after a remarkable IPL 2026 season with Rajasthan Royals. He won the Orange Cap after scoring 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30 and became the first uncapped player in IPL history to score more than 700 runs in a season. He also won the Most Valuable Player award.
The youngster recently impressed for India A in the tri-series final against Sri Lanka A. He scored 94 runs in just 29 balls and scored a half-century in 11 balls, which is the fastest half-century in List A cricket history. His innings played an important role in India’s victory.
He has scored 1,477 runs in 34 T20 matches at an average of 44.75 and strike rate of 220.44. His performances have made him one of the most exciting young batsmen in Indian cricket and a strong contender for a long international career.