New Delhi: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's remarkable 776-run season in IPL 2026 has not only earned him a place in India's T20I squads for the Ireland and England series but also drawn praise from cricketing legends. Sachin Tendulkar has repeatedly lauded the teenager, and now former South African speedster Dale Steyn has joined the chorus, predicting that Sooryavanshi could surpass both Tendulkar and Virat Kohli.
Steyn's High Praise
Speaking ahead of SA20 Season 5, Steyn was effusive in his admiration. "Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is different gravy, man," he said. "He's better than most international players right now. He is a boy wonder, a treasure for India cricket."
Steyn went further, comparing the young left-hander to the game's greats: "You think of guys like Sachin, you think of guys like 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."
Caution Advised
Despite the glowing predictions, Steyn urged careful management of the prodigy. "I would caution how you manage him and how you look after him because with great responsibility comes great reward. But there's a big threat there that you could lose him at some point if you don't look after him well enough," he warned.
Sooryavanshi's IPL Dominance
The Rajasthan Royals opener amassed 776 runs in 16 matches at an average of 48.50 and a strike rate of 237.30, smashing 72 sixes to break Chris Gayle's record for most maximums in an IPL season.
How to Stop Him?
Steyn suggested a tactical approach. "I think KG (Rabada) bowled well to him, where you test him up here," Steyn said, pointing to his head. "You've got to test him up upstairs. He's still young. He's only 14, and if you can throw a little bit of fear factor into the game... The short ball towards him is a good option."
SA20 and Fan Culture
Steyn also discussed the growth of SA20, praising fan support at venues like St George's Park. He opposed moving games to India, unlike the Big Bash League. "I would feel harsh to rob the South Africans of one game... If it ain't broke, don't fix it," he said, advocating instead for a revival of the Champions League T20.
Steyn concluded: "Maybe what we should look at... is the Champions League T20, where it was the best teams from around the world... That, I would say, is a more viable option going forward."
