table of contents
Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been one of the best teenage talents India has ever seen. The 15-year-old boy did something special during the Tata Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, which no one thought he would achieve so soon. He won the Orange Cap award after scoring 776 runs in the tournament and also became the youngest Most Valuable Player (MVP) award winner.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi creates stir in IPL 2026; He was the most talked about among the opponents and the former cricketer also became a commentator and panelist. The southpaw was honored for his excellent performances with an India A call-up for the tri-series in Sri Lanka, followed by a senior team opportunity for the UK tour and the Asian Games 2026.
The rise of Vaibhav Suryavanshi is an exception
Many former cricketers have been mesmerized by Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s talent and the aggression he has shown while facing world-class bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc. Former South African fast bowler Dale Steyn is the latest name among the former cricketers who have praised the Universe Baby Boss.
Speaking on South Africa’s youth pool, he admitted that he did not see any teenager in his country coming close to Suryavanshi’s talent and progress. Dale Steyn also feels that if he continues playing like this, he will leave behind the legacy of Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi is a different gravy – Dale Steyn
“I don’t think there’s any amazing 14 or 15-year-old kid in South Africa at the moment. And if there is, I don’t know about him. I don’t keep my finger on the pulse as closely as some of the local scouts do,” Steyn said during a conversation hosted by SA20 at the start of Season 5.
“But one thing I would say is that there is no shortage of talent in South Africa. We have incredible talent coming through the system. There are excellent under-19 and under-15 players progressing through the schools circuit.” “That said, Vaibhav Suryavanshi is a different gravy. He is better than most international players at the moment. He is a genuine guy and a treasure for Indian cricket.”
This kid is going to explode – beats Dale Steyn, Kohli and Sachin on Suryavanshi
The former South African fast bowler was present on the commentary panel for IPL 2026 and watched Vaibhav Suryavanshi live, and revealed that the southpaw can reach levels that cricket has not seen before. “You think of players like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, and this kid is going to explode. He could be even bigger than both of them by the end of his career.”
Apart from praising Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Steyn also cautioned the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to manage and protect the teenage sensation as it is difficult to find such talent. “So I would be very careful about how he is managed and cared for. With great responsibility comes great reward, but there is also a risk that you could lose him along the way if he is not handled properly.”
“As far as South Africa is concerned, no, we don’t have any 14 or 15-year-old players at the moment who can compete with them. But we have some exceptional talent, including a number of players in their 20s who will step up and represent South Africa in the coming years.”