'I don't know': Kapil Dev declines to comment on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Former Indian all-rounder Kapil Dev declined to comment on teenage IPL star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, saying experts like Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri are better suited to judge him. The 15-year-old Rajasthan Royals opener has scored 404 runs in IPL 2026, including a 36-ball century, earning widespread praise and India call-up discussions.
Former Indian all-rounder Kapil Dev chose not to weigh in on the growing hype surrounding teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, saying others who follow the game more closely are “better” placed to judge the youngster’s performances. Sooryavanshi, just 15 years old, has become one of the biggest stories of IPL 2026 with his fearless batting for Rajasthan Royals. The left-handed opener has scored 404 runs in 10 matches this season, including a stunning century and two fifties, while taking apart some of the world’s best bowlers.
His performances have even sparked discussions around a possible India call-up for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England later this year. The youngster’s rapid rise was a major talking point during an event attended by Kapil Dev, but the 1983 World Cup-winning captain avoided offering a detailed assessment of the teenager. “I don't know because I haven't seen that.
I am like you people. Whatever you put on TV, I see, and I try to make sense out of that. I watch cricket at home on TV, and then giving judgment is not correct,” Kapil Dev told reporters on Sunday.
Instead, the legendary all-rounder suggested that commentators and former players who closely follow the game would be more qualified to speak about Sooryavanshi’s development. “People who talk and see everybody, they are better. Like Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, or Harsha Bhogle, they can make more sense than I can,” he added.