'A great example for Vaibhav to emulate'

Dililp Vengsarkar, former captain of the Indian cricket team, expressed support for young prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, urging him to draw inspiration from cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar's characteristics of discipline, focus, and mental strength. Sooryavanshi, aged 15, stands on the brink of making history as he prepares for his international debut in the ongoing T20I series against Ireland. If he succeeds in playing, he will surpass Tendulkar's record as the youngest Indian in men's cricket, marking his entry into the sport a year earlier than Tendulkar, who debuted against Pakistan at 16 years of age in 1989.

Anticipation around Sooryavanshi peaked ahead of the first T20I in Belfast, but he remained on the bench as head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shreyas Iyer retained the T20 World Cup-winning duo of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. Sooryavanshi's phenomenal performance during the IPL 2026, where he scored over 700 runs for the Rajasthan Royals, fueled comparisons to Tendulkar. Vengsarkar acknowledged the excitement surrounding Sooryavanshi while emphasizing the importance of emulating the traits that defined Tendulkar's legendary career.

"When I watched Sachin Tendulkar play, he looked mentally mature for his age. He excelled in inter-school tournaments in Mumbai and club cricket," Vengsarkar stated. "He was disciplined, passionate, and focused, which serves as a great example for youngsters like Vaibhav to follow."

Though Sooryavanshi is still awaiting his first international game, Vengsarkar believes an opportunity is imminent and expects the teenager to seize it effectively. "I am confident he will get the chance, and once he does, he will make the most of it because he is an exceptional player. His potential is tremendous," Vengsarkar continued.

"Some of the shots he plays are unreal; his batting style is unique. In the T20 format, he has been outstanding." When questioned on whether Sooryavanshi has what it takes to become a successful Test cricketer, Vengsarkar remained cautious, noting that judgments so far have been made based on his performance in T20s. "It's difficult to determine, as he has played mainly in the T20 format. I haven’t seen him in longer formats, but I am sure he will excel there when the time comes. We will have to wait and observe his performance in that longer format, which is crucial," Vengsarkar added.