‘So many have faded’: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi warns Vinod Kambli by example

India’s Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (AP Photo) Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has already created huge excitement around Indian cricket, but former India captain Kapil Dev believes it is too early to gauge whether the teenage sensation can become the next big name in the game.At the age of 15, Sooryavanshi has already made a significant impact in the India A age group, IPL and is now a part of India’s T20I set-up. But with the youngster currently awaiting his opportunity behind the established opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, Kapil believes there is no rush to predict his future.“It’s too early. Does he have the ability? Yes. But there have been so many people in cricket who have come with so much ability and then disappeared,” Kapil told the Tech Word News.Kapil cited former India batsman Vinod Kambli as an example of a player whose immense talent did not translate into the long-term career that many expected.“Look at Vinod Kambli. What shall we say?” he said.Still just 15, Sooryavanshi has plenty of time on his side. Kapil believes that the coming years will be more revealing than his current performances.“Vaibhav is 15 years old. Give him three more years and then we will talk. When his lifestyle changes, his mindset will change. Then we will know what he will look like after another two years. That is more important than looking at his performance,” Kapil said.The teenager has already given Indian cricket a lot 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.He produced another remarkable performance in the U-19 World Cup final in Harare in early February, smashing 175 off 80 balls to help India U-19 win the title. His IPL career also started with a big bang. In the 2026 season, he broke several batting records this year and won the Orange Cap before making the Indian T20I squad.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.“Every young cricketer we can feel has a future for the next 10 years, 15 years. Those type of cricketers. We have seen Rohit, Virat. We have already seen Sachin. And we were so proud,” Kapil told Tech Word News.“But you’re always looking for the next hero. You’re always asking, ‘Who’s the next hero?’ As a cricketer, I would like to see who is the young lad who has that chance and who can replace Virat Kohli. And play for 15 years. That’s what my mind is looking for.”For Sooryavanshi, the spotlight is unlikely to go away anytime soon. But Kapil’s message is clear: talent may open doors, but how a teenager develops outside the limelight may ultimately determine how long he stays at the top.