Legendary South Africa pacer Dale Steyn said 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi can go past the greatness of Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, calling the southpaw a treasure for Indian cricket. Steyn heaped massive praise on Sooryavanshi after his impressive batting for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2026. He amassed 776 runs to win the Orange Cap and was selected for the tours of Ireland and England.

Speaking at an event, Steyn said Sooryavanshi’s talent was unbelievable, and he hasn’t seen anything like that before in his life.

“You talk a lot about Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, but this kid Sooryavanshi is going to explode. He is going to be better than these two legends put together at the end of his career,” Steyn said.

The right-arm pacer was blunt when he was asked to compare Sooryavanshi with talented players from South Africa.

“I don’t think there is a kid like him in South Africa. If there is, I am not aware. I don’t keep a close eye on the emerging players as much as the local scouts do.

But there is no shortage of talent in South Africa.

“The young performers are coming up, and Under-19 and Under-15 players are coming through the system. However, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is a different gravy. He is better than most international players at the moment. He is a wonder boy and an asset for Indian cricket.”

Sooryavanshi has become a household name in a span of two years. He has matured, and his batting style is hogging the limelight. Vaibhav dominated the pacers like Jasprit Bumrah, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.

His display in the cash-rich league has led to comparisons with some of the big names.

Steyn urged the BCCI and the selectors to manage Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

“He should be managed and looked after carefully. With responsibility comes reward, but there is a risk of losing him if he is not handled properly.

“There are no players in South Africa who can match him. But there are exceptional talents in the country, including those in their 20s, who will represent South Africa in the future.”

According to the 42-year-old, Vaibhav’s ability to hit the ball hard sets him apart from others.

“He is one of the best strikers of the cricket ball. I have seen him bat on good batting tracks in India. The fields are not bigger. With the wickets as good as they are, he is going after the bowlers without any pressure. He is a very good player,” he explained.

Steyn believes bowlers can challenge the Indian batter. He recalled Kagiso Rabada’s approach against Sooryavanshi and suggested that targeting the player with short-pitched stuff could prove impactful.

“Kagiso Rabada bowled well against him. You have to test him with short balls.

He is just 15, and if you put fear into his game, there is a chance of dismissing him. Cricket is a fear factor game.

“If a batter starts fearing somebody and is scared, it can help the bowlers. A batter will end up doing silly things, which is enough for the bowler to have an upper hand. So, showing the ball to Vaibhav is a good option,” he concluded.