Former India captain Kapil Dev says Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should be considered for international selection based on readiness and ability rather than age, as debate grows over the teenage opener’s long-awaited India debut. Speaking across interviews and podcasts, Dev compares the 15-year-old’s batting talent to established greats, saying Sooryavanshi looks as good as Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli in T20 cricket. He also cautions against excessive hype and the pressure that can come with it, arguing that comparisons to historical early starters like Tendulkar are valid but should not substitute for real performance.
Sources note Sooryavanshi is included in India’s squads for away T20I assignments in Ireland and England, yet has so far been waiting for a cap. One report says he was benched for multiple consecutive matches during India’s Ireland series. Dev adds that the true test will come as his career progresses, including the need to show competence beyond T20 and to handle the inevitable difficult phases. The discussion is framed against India’s broader effort to improve outcomes in the ongoing T20 series.
