‘So many have faded out’: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi cautioned with Vinod Kambli example

India's Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (AP Photo)

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has already generated enormous excitement around Indian cricket, but former India captain Kapil Dev believes it is far too early to judge whether the teenage sensation can go on to become the next big name in the game.At 15, Sooryavanshi has already made a significant impact at the age-group, India A, IPL and is now part of India’s T20I setup. But with the youngster currently waiting for his opportunity behind the established opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, Kapil believes there is little value in rushing to make predictions about his future.

“It’s too early. Does he have the ability? Yes. But there have been so many in cricket who came with so much ability, then faded out,” Kapil told Times of India.Kapil cited former India batter Vinod Kambli as an example of a player whose immense talent did not translate into the kind of long-term career many expected.“Look at Vinod Kambli. What we will say about that?” he said.Sooryavanshi, who is still only 15, has plenty of time on his side. Kapil believes the next few years will be more revealing than his current performances.“Vaibhav is 15 years old. Give him another three years, then we will talk.

When his lifestyle changes, his thinking too will change. Then we’ll come to know how he will look after the next two years. That is more important than looking at his performance,” Kapil said.The teenager has already given Indian cricket plenty to talk about. In June, in his last innings as an uncapped player, Sooryavanshi smashed the fastest fifty in List A cricket, reaching the milestone in just 11 balls before finishing with 94 off 29 balls for India A in the tri-series final against Sri Lanka A.Earlier in February, he produced another remarkable performance in the Under-19 World Cup final in Harare, smashing 175 off 80 balls to help India Under-19 win the title. His IPL career also began with a bang, In 2026 season he broke several batting records this year and won the Orange Cap before being blooded into India’s T20I side.

But Kapil’s broader view of young cricketers is not about one innings or one season. He said he is always looking for players who can potentially stay at the top level for a decade or more.“Any young cricketer who we can feel has a future for the next 10 years, 15 years. Those type of cricketers. We have seen Rohit, Virat. We already saw Sachin. And they made us so proud,” Kapil told Times of India.“But you’re always looking for the next hero. You always ask, ‘Who is the next hero?’ As a cricketer I like to see which is that young boy who has got that chance, who can replace

Virat Kohli

. And play for 15 years. That’s what my mind looks for.”For Sooryavanshi, the attention is unlikely to disappear anytime soon. But Kapil’s message is clear: talent can open the door, but how a teenager develops away from the spotlight may ultimately determine how long he stays at the top.