Photo via CricTracker

'Look at Vinod Kambli' - Kapil Dev warns Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ahead of 2nd T20I vs West Indies

Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has burst onto the international scene with a series of standout performances, including a record-breaking 175* off 80 balls in the Under-19 World Cup final and a dominant IPL Orange Cap-winning season in 2026 with 776 runs across 16 innings. His debut in the T20I series against England in July marked the beginning of what could be a long career, but legendary cricketer Kapil Dev has urged caution, comparing Sooryavanshi’s early promise to that of Vinod Kambli, whose potential never fully translated into sustained success at the highest level.

Kapil emphasized that talent alone is not enough, stressing the importance of maturity and lifestyle choices in determining a player’s long-term trajectory. 'Give him another three years,' Kapil advised, noting that Sooryavanshi’s development over time will be a better indicator of his future than his current form.

The young opener remains on the fringes of India’s T20I squad, waiting for an opportunity behind established batsmen Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, with his inclusion in the upcoming match against the West Indies on October 9 still uncertain.

Up nextCricket· 2h ago

‘So many have faded out’: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi cautioned with Vinod Kambli example