IPL 2026: Don't tag Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as the next Sachin Tendulkar, says Dinesh Karthik
New Delhi, May 21
Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has cautioned against burdening teenage batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with comparisons to the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, stressing that the youngster's challenges will be unique.
Representing the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, left-handed opener Sooryavanshi has scored 579 runs in 13 matches and is leading the run-scoring charts with a staggering strike rate of 236.32.
"What Vaibhav is doing is very special, but what I don't want the people to do is tag him as the next Sachin because he is just 15 years old and doing what he is doing. I think what Sachin did was extraordinary. Vaibhav's challenges will be completely different.
"Sachin's challenges would have been as much on the field as they were off the field, but Vaibhav's challenges will definitely be more off-field, because he possesses a lot of cricketing skills, dealing with everything that comes outside the sport," said Karthik in an upcoming episode of the Quest Talk podcast by iQOO.
Karthik, currently the batting coach and mentor of defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, also spoke about the evolution of the IPL from 2008 to now. "IPL, from its start to what it is today, is a completely different beast, and it's like the sport has grown on steroids because a lot of things have changed.
"The amount of data and matrix used has been quite phenomenal; it's the fastest-growing format that ever existed, and it's a lifestyle provider for a lot of people. And it seems like a very strong career option for any young boy or girl choosing to play the sport. And it's competing with other sports tournaments in the world in a very short period of time," he added.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Honestly, the moment I saw his strike rate, I knew the comparisons would start. But 236 SR at 15 is crazy good. However, Sachin's legacy is built on nearly 25 years of international cricket across formats. Vaibhav has just started his journey in the shortest format. Let him play 50 matches first, then we'll talk. 🤔
As someone who watched Sachin's entire career from England, I agree with DK. The "next Sachin" tag has ruined more promising careers than it's made. Remember Vinod Kambli? The hype needs to be managed carefully. Vaibhav's real test will be how he handles fame at 15, not just runs on the board.
DK's point about off-field challenges is spot on. Today's young cricketers are dealing with brand endorsements, social media trolls, and constant analysis from armchair experts. When Sachin started in 1989, there was no Twitter or Instagram to judge every shot. Vaibhav needs a strong support system, more than just cricket coaching. The mental aspect will define his future.
Fair play to Dinesh Karthik for being the voice of reason here. I love how the IPL has evolved, but we must protect young talents from early burnout. Vaibhav's stats are incredible for his age, but Sachin Tendulkar earned that comparison over decades. Let this kid be Vaibhav Sooryavanshi first. And that's more than enough. 🇮🇳
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