Legendary India captain Kapil Dev says teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should not be held back by his age as India considers his international debut during T20I assignments in Ireland and England. Multiple reports say Kapil Dev compares Sooryavanshi’s raw batting talent to greats such as Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, while also warning that hype should not become excessive pressure. He argues that selection should be based on readiness and performance rather than age, adding that history shows some players start “late” only by conventional expectations. According to reports, Sooryavanshi has been included in India’s squads for the away T20Is but has waited for a playing opportunity, including being benched for several matches after India’s shock series defeat to Ireland. The current discussion is linked to India’s search for improvement in the T20 series and broader debate over whether Sooryavanshi should be fast-tracked into playing XI roles. Sources also note his standout IPL 2026 campaign for Rajasthan Royals, where he topped the run charts and earned Orange Cap honors, which has intensified calls for his India cap.