Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has potential to be bigger than Virat Kohli, Sachin: Steyn

Former South African fast bowler Dale Steyn believes teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could achieve even more success than Indian batting icons Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, calling the youngster “a treasure for Indian cricket” and one of the most gifted players he has ever seen.

Steyn’s comments come against the backdrop of Sooryavanshi’s extraordinary IPL 2026 campaign. The 15-year-old left-hander amassed 776 runs to win the Orange Cap and to force his way into India’s T20I squad for the upcoming tour of Ireland and England.

During an SA20-mediated interaction ahead of Season 5, Steyn said Sooryavanshi’s talent was unlike anything he had seen among players of a similar age.

“You think of guys like Sachin, Virat and this kid is going to explode. He’s going to be bigger than both of them put together at the end of his career,” Steyn said.

The former speed ace was equally emphatic when asked to compare Sooryavanshi to South Africa’s emerging talents.

“I don’t think there is a prodigy in South Africa who is 14 or 15 now. And if there is, I don’t know about it. I don’t have my finger on the pulse as accurately as some of the local scouts. But one thing I will say is that there is no shortage of talent in South Africa.”

“We have incredible talent coming through the system. There are outstanding under-19s and under-15s coming through the school circuit.”

“That said, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is a different sauce. He is better than most international players now. He is a real boy wonder and a treasure for Indian cricket.”

Sooryavanshi’s rise has been one of the biggest stories in Indian cricket over the past year. Despite his age, he has shown a maturity and range of stroke play that has allowed him to dominate some of the world’s leading bowlers. His performances in the IPL put him firmly in the limelight and drew comparisons with some of the biggest names in the game.

“INDIA COULD HAVE LOST SOORYAVANSHI”

However, Steyn warned that India’s challenge now lies in carefully managing the teenager’s development.

“So I’d be very careful how it’s handled and cared for. With great responsibility comes great reward, but there’s also the risk that you could lose it along the way if it’s not handled properly.”

“As for South Africa, no, we don’t have a 14- or 15-year-old kid who can compete with him right now. But we have some exceptional talent, including a lot of players in their twenties who will come on and represent South Africa in the years to come.”

The 42-year-old said Sooryavanshi’s ability to hit the ball cleanly sets him apart from most players.

“He’s a fantastic striker. I’ve watched him play in India, where the wickets are good. The pitches are a little bit smaller, just a little bit. And when the wickets are as good as they are, he uses it really well. He’s a very good player who can do that.”

Still, Steyn believes the bowlers can still find ways to challenge the youngster. He pointed to Kagiso Rabada’s approach and suggested that testing Sooryavanshi with short pitch bowling could prove effective.

“I think Rabada bowled well at him. You have to test him at the top and he’s still young, he’s only 14-15 years old and if you can throw a bit of fear factor into the game, I think cricket is a game with a fear factor.”

“If you go into the game scared, if you’re scared of somebody, not for your life, but even if you’re scared of bowling or the fear you’re facing, fear can make you do stupid things. So a short ball towards him is probably a good option,” he said.

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Issued by:

Saurabh Kumar

Published on:

June 12, 2026 1:53 PM IST