At the age of just 15, Vaibhav Suryavanshi has taken cricket fans to a different level. Despite the presence of superstars like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the teenage batsman has remained a major topic of discussion among cricket fans since his debut in the Indian Premier League in the 2025 season with Rajasthan Royals.
There is no doubt that Vaibhav Suryavanshi is extremely talented and knows how to clear well. Michael Vaughan, Alastair Cook and many other former cricketers and legends are mesmerized by his skills. As of now, it is only a matter of time before he makes his debut on the international stage with the senior Indian national cricket team.
AB de Villiers discusses Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s career from a new perspective
While everything is going in the batsman’s favour, former South Africa captain and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) legend AB de Villiers wants to see Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s batting before calling him a T20 specialist for life.
The former cricketer said that what the Rajasthan Royals batsman has done for the franchise and the Under-19 Indian cricket team at such a young age is incredible. But will he be able to last long? AB de Villiers has doubts!
I don’t know whether Vaibhav Suryavanshi will be able to survive or not: RCB legend
AB de Villiers, while a guest on the ‘For the Love of Cricket’ podcast hosted by Stuart Broad and Jos Buttler, said, “To be honest, I don’t know whether he will last or not. At this age, it is absolutely unbelievable. We know the talent is there, but I want to see him in other formats. In Test cricket, he doesn’t know what you are doing.”
Villiers’ view is clear. He would call Vaibhav Suryavanshi a specialist batsman in the Twenty20 format until the batsman proves himself in Tests and ODIs as well. The former South African batsman believes that he has all the tools in Suryavanshi. But it will be interesting to see how the emerging talent will tackle future endeavours.
Villiers asked Suryavanshi to prove himself in other formats as well
“A lot of things won’t change unless someone comes to him and says… Listen, you will be a T20 specialist for the rest of your life. Congratulations, you are going to do just that. Then a very long and successful career, but if he starts moving around in ODIs, especially Test cricket, he will discover a different area of his cricket both mentally and physically,” explains the RCB veteran.
“Does he have the talent to overcome all the obstacles that come his way? Certainly, but it will not be an easy journey. It will be a rocky road. I hope he continues on that path and plays Test cricket for his country. I would love to see that journey continue,” he concluded.
Read More: Delhi Capitals faces fresh leadership crisis as GMR and JSW clash over franchise control
