Sooryavanshi is likely to make his India debut on the T20I tour of Ireland later this month.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi emerged as the breakout star of the recently concluded IPL season. Playing for Rajasthan Royals (RR), the 15-year-old became the youngest Orange Cap winner and Most Valuable Player, hammering 776 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 237.30 with one hundred, five fifties and a record 72 sixes.
Following his unprecedented dominance in the IPL 2026, Sooryavanshi earned his maiden senior national call-up to India's T20I squad for the upcoming tours of Ireland and England, as well as for the 2026 Asian Games.
As a result, Sooryavanshi shattered Sachin Tendulkar's 36-year-old record to become the youngest-ever player selected to a senior Indian squad.
Amid the ongoing frenzy, South African pace legend Dale Steyn admitted that he currently doesn't see a single teenager in his country capable of matching Sooryavanshi's meteoric rise.
"I don't think there's a wonderkid who's 14 or 15 in South Africa right now. And if there is, I'm not aware of him. I don't have my finger on the pulse as closely as some of the local scouts do," Steyn said during an interaction facilitated by SA20 in the lead-up to Season 5.
"But one thing I will say is that there is no shortage of talent in South Africa. We have incredible talent coming through the system. There are outstanding Under-19 and Under-15 players progressing through the school circuit.
"That said, 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," he added.
While Steyn suggested that Sooryavanshi could eventually eclipse icons like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, he cautioned the Indian cricketing establishment to manage the youngster carefully.
"You think of players like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, and this kid is going to explode. He could end up being bigger than both of them put together by the end of his career."
"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 remarked.
Despite not analyzing his game in deep detail, Steyn recommended a pace-and-bounce strategy to test Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, much like Kagiso Rabada during the IPL 2026.
"If I were looking for an area to test him, I'd do what Kagiso Rabada does so well. I'd challenge him with pace and bounce. He's still very young, and cricket is a game that involves a fear factor. So the short ball is probably a good option. I'd test him upstairs and see how he responds."