Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is only 15: Dinesh Karthik warns against Sachin Tendulkar comparisons

Former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik has warned against comparing teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with batting great Sachin Tendulkar, saying the 15-year-old should not be burdened with such expectations so early in his career.

Sooryavanshi was one of the outstanding artists IPL 2026 for Rajasthan Royals. The left-handed opener has scored 579 runs in 13 matches and leads the run charts with a strike rate of 236.32.

Speaking on the upcoming episode of iQOO’s Quest Talk podcast, Karthik said comparisons with Sachin were unnecessary despite the youngster’s remarkable performances.

“What Vaibhav is doing is very special but I don’t want people to label him as another Sachin because he is just 15 years old and he is doing what he is doing,” said Karthik.

“I think what Sachin did was extraordinary. Vaibhav’s challenges will be completely different.”

Karthik said young cricketers today face much more pressure off the field due to social media and public attention.

“Sachin’s challenges would be the same on the field as off the field, but Vaibhav’s challenges will definitely be more off the field because he has a lot of cricketing skills and will deal with everything that comes outside the sport,” he added.

Sooryavanshi’s fearless batting made him one of the biggest stories of the season. The teenager has impressed with his attacking approach against experienced bowlers and is already regarded as one of the brightest prospects in Indian cricket.

Karthik also spoke about how the IPL has changed since its inception in 2008.

“The IPL, from its inception to what it is today, is a completely different animal and it’s like the sport has grown on steroids because a lot of things have changed,” Karthik said.

“The amount of data and matrices used has been pretty phenomenal; it’s the fastest growing format ever, and it’s a lifestyle provider for a lot of people.”

Karthik, who is currently the batting coach and mentor of defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, said the league has become a big career opportunity for young players.

“And it seems to be a very strong career option for any young boy or girl who chooses to play this sport. And it competes with other sports tournaments in the world in a very short time,” he added.

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Issued by:

Saurabh Kumar

Published on:

May 22, 2026 12:31 PM IST

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