Kapil Dev reveals his expectations from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after 15-year-old earns India call-up

Kapil Dev couldn't be more upfront in his expectations from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

Updated on: Jun 8, 2026, 16:01:19 IST

Written by Aditya Bhattacharya

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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's inclusion in India's T20I squads for tours of Ireland and England, and the Asian Games, has been met with considerable excitement across the cricketing world. British media, in particular, has shown keen interest in hosting the teenage sensation later this month. Sooryavanshi's breakthrough into the Indian team was only a matter of time after he set IPL 2026 alight, scoring 776 runs to finish as the tournament's Orange Cap winner. As BCCI chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar pointed out, Sooryavanshi's string of performances left the selectors with little choice but to include him for the UK tour.

Kapil Dev isn't expecting the world from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (PTI)

However, earning a call-up is one thing; succeeding on the international stage is quite another. That is why the legendary Kapil Dev is keeping his expectations measured. In fact, India's first World Cup-winning captain has urged people to give the youngster time and space to develop at his own pace as he begins the next chapter of his career.

"He is a special talent, give him time, but he has definitely shown the talent he possesses. I think he is unbelievable, but again, he will have to conduct himself in the Indian team, keep himself fit, and many other things will follow. How focused he remains, only he can answer, but to me, he is a special talent... There is nothing wrong with giving respect to the young kid, but expecting too much at this stage would be wrong," Kapil told PTI.

Ganguly echoes

Kapil's sentiments were earlier echoed by Sourav Ganguly, who also felt that the public should keep its expectations of Sooryavanshi in check. The former India captain and BCCI president sounded a note of caution, and rightly so. After all, he is only 15 and is currently in Sri Lanka with the India A team for a 50-over tri-nation series featuring Afghanistan A. For someone who has become the toast of the nation in such a short span of time, handling fame and the expectations that accompany it can be a challenge. That is why the BCCI must ensure Sooryavanshi receives the right guidance and support.

The board has already made a special provision for the youngster, allowing his parents to accompany him to the UK to help him acclimatise to the conditions and settle into his new environment.

Sooryavanshi could well be made to wait for his opportunity, with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson already established as India's T20I opening pair, especially after their roles in the team's title-winning T20 World Cup campaign. The two matches against Ireland, scheduled for June 26 and 28, will also mark the beginning of Shreyas Iyer's tenure as India's full-time T20I captain.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aditya Bhattacharya
Aditya Bhattacharya is the Sports Editor at Hindustan Times Digital, with close to 15 years of experience in sports journalism. Over the course of his career, he has worked with leading media organisations including Cricbuzz, The Times of India, Network18 and Zee. Primarily a cricket writer, Aditya has covered several marquee events, including the 2016 ICC World T20, the 2019 ICC World Cup in England and the 2023 World Cup in India. His reporting portfolio also includes international cricket across England, South Africa and New Zealand, along with forays into tennis, including coverage of the Australian Open. He has interviewed several prominent athletes across sports. Aditya began his career with a brief stint at CricketNext before getting his first major break at Cricbuzz, where he was part of the Times Network’s startup venture GoCricket, which later merged with Cricbuzz. After nearly 18 months there, he moved to The Times of India, covering his first World Cup assignment and reporting first-hand on landmark moments such as Virat Kohli’s iconic innings against Australia in Mohali. During his three-year tenure, he played a key role in both reporting and desk operations and was recognised as TOI Employee of the Quarter in 2016. He later joined Zee, where he covered the 2019 World Cup across five venues in England—an assignment he considers a career highlight. At Hindustan Times, Aditya’s leadership came to the fore as he was promoted to lead the sports team within 18 months. Under his stewardship, the section has delivered extensive coverage of global sporting events, including the IPL, Olympics, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. In 2024, he was named HT DigiStar of the Year. Aditya continues to adapt to the evolving digital publishing landscape, with a sharp focus on search and audience engagement. Outside work, he occasionally plays the guitar and remains an avid gamer.Read More

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