Dale Steyn says Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could end up bigger than Kohli and Tendulkar
Dale Steyn calls teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi a different level of talent, but warns that poor handling could cost cricket one of its brightest prospects.
By SportCricket Desk · 12 Jun 2026 · 2 min read
Former South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn has made a bold claim about young Indian batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, suggesting he could eventually surpass both Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli in stature.
Steyn’s verdict
Steyn, who bowled against both Tendulkar and Kohli during his career, spoke in an interaction ahead of SA20 Season 5. He said the teenager is about to explode and predicted that by the end of his career he could be bigger than the two legends put together.
He conceded that South Africa and other countries have no shortage of young talent, yet insisted Sooryavanshi is on another level, better than most international players right now, and a genuine boy wonder.
The rise behind the praise
Sooryavanshi has reportedly drawn global attention with his displays in IPL 2026, where he was one of the standout young performers and collected major honours. That form has brought a maiden India call-up for the T20I series against Ireland and England, along with selection for upcoming multi-nation assignments.
A note of caution
Steyn did not only offer praise. He warned that the teenager’s career needs careful handling, saying that with great responsibility comes great reward but also a risk of losing him if he is not managed properly.
He finished by observing that, while South Africa continues to produce strong young players, none at the moment matches the rare potential he sees in Sooryavanshi.
