15-year-old Young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been in the headlines ever since he made his debut in IPL 2025 for Rajasthan Royals (RR). At such a young age, Sooryavanshi has registered multiple records; however, South Africa’s legendary cricketer AB de Villiers believes the teenager still has plenty of time to prove himself before establishing himself at the highest level.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s 175-run knock powered India to U-19 World Cup title
Sooryavanshi has smashed centuries in England, South Africa, and Australia, along with his famous match-winning 175-run knock in the final, which powered the Under-19 Indian team to claim a record-extending sixth World Cup title.
“I don’t know if he’s going to last, to be honest. That’s what I tell my brothers and friends. At this age, it’s just absolutely incredible. We know the talent is there, but I would like to see him in other formats. In Test cricket, he doesn’t get to know what you’re in for,” De Villiers said during “For the Love of Cricket” podcast hosted by Stuart Broad and Jos Buttler.
“A lot of things will change unless someone comes around and says to him… Listen, you will be a T20 specialist for the rest of your life. Congratulations, that’s all you’re going to do. Then there will be a very long and successful career, but if he does start nibbling around in ODIs, particularly Test cricket, he will discover a whole different area of his cricket mentally and physically.”
AB de Villiers praised the extraordinary talent of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
While AB de Villiers praised the extraordinary talent of 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the former South African captain also urged fans not to get carried away too soon.
Sooryavanshi has already created massive buzz in the cricketing world with his fearless approach and remarkable shot-making ability. His aggressive batting against elite pacers such as Jasprit Bumrah, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins has stunned both fans and experts alike. His performances have been so extraordinary that many supporters jokingly refer to him as an “AI”
Sooryavanshi is already considered as future superstars of Indian cricket after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, with many expecting him to dominate the game for decades. However, as per De Villiers bigger challenge lies ahead the young prodigy.
“Does he have the talent to counter all the obstacles that might come his way? Definitely, but it won’t be an easy ride. It will be a rocky road. I hope he goes that route and plays Test cricket for his country. I would love to see that journey unfold,” the former South Africa captain added.
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