‘Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to be bigger than Virat, Sachin’:Dale Steyn backs 15-year-old’s exceptional potential, says, ‘Treasure for Indian cricket’

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s remarkable rise in Indian cricket has earned praise from some of the biggest names in the sport. The latest to join the growing list of admirers is former South Africa fast-bowling legend Dale Steyn, who believes the teenager has the potential to become one of the greatest cricketers of all time. The 15-year-old batting sensation grabbed headlines during IPL 2026 with a record-breaking season for Rajasthan Royals. His outstanding performances helped him finish as the tournament’s highest run-scorer with 776 runs, earning him the Orange Cap and a place in India’s T20I squad for the upcoming tours of Ireland and England. Steyn, who has closely followed the youngster’s development, described Sooryavanshi as a special talent and one of the most gifted young cricketers he has ever seen. Dale Steyn makes massive prediction about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Speaking during an interaction facilitated by SA20 ahead of Season 5, Steyn made a bold prediction about Sooryavanshi’s future. He said, “You think of guys like Sachin, Virat, and this kid is going to explode. He’s going to be bigger than both of them put together at the end of his career.” Steyn further added, “Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is a different gravy. He’s better than most international players right now. He’s a genuine boy wonder and a treasure for Indian cricket.” Steyn warns BCCI to manage Vaibhav carefully While praising the youngster’s talent, Steyn also cautioned the BCCI about handling his career properly. He said, “So I’d be very careful about how he’s managed and looked after. With great responsibility comes great reward, but there’s also a risk that you could lose him along the way if he isn’t handled properly. “As for South Africa, no, we don’t have a 14- or 15-year-old who can rival him right now. But we do have some exceptional talent, including a lot of players in their twenties who will push through and represent South Africa in the years ahead.” Steyn elaborates on what makes Sooryavanshi special According to Steyn, Sooryavanshi’s clean ball-striking ability separates him from many other players. He explained, “He’s a fantastic ball striker. I’ve watched him play in India where the wickets are good. The fields are slightly smaller, just slightly. And with the wickets as good as they are, he’s exploited that really well. He’s a very good player who can do that.” However, the South African legend believes opposition bowlers can still test the teenager, particularly with short-pitched deliveries. He added further, “I think Rabada bowled at him well. You’ve got to test him upstairs and he’s still young, he’s only 14-15, and if you can throw a little bit of fear factor into the game, I mean, cricket is a fear factor game. “If you go into the game scared, if you’re fearing somebody, not for your life, but even just fear bowling to them or fear facing them, fear can make you do silly things. So, the short ball towards him is probably a good option,” Dale Steyn concluded.