“His batting is unbelievable…”: Dilip Vengsarkar left stunned by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s ‘unreal’ shots ahead of India debut

India’s rising cricket sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues to impress some of the biggest names in the game, and the latest to join the growing list of admirers is former India captain and ex-chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar.

The legendary batter has described the 15-year-old as an “unbelievable” talent, praising his rare ability to play extraordinary shots and dominate bowlers with sheer confidence.

With Vaibhav expected to make his India debut during the ongoing white-ball tours of Ireland and England, Vengsarkar believes the teenager is ready for the big stage.

“He will grab it with both hands”

Speaking in an exclusive interaction, Vengsarkar said he is confident that once Vaibhav gets an opportunity, he will make the most of it.

“I am sure he will get the opportunity, and once he gets it, he will grab it with both hands because he is a very good player,” Vengsarkar said.

The former selector didn’t hold back in praising the youngster’s unique batting style.

“He is just unbelievable.”

‘Some of his shots are unreal’

Vengsarkar highlighted Vaibhav’s hand-eye coordination and powerful bat swing as key strengths, saying those qualities make him a dangerous batter, especially in T20 cricket.

“He has tremendous potential. Some of the shots he plays are unreal,” he said.

According to Vengsarkar, Vaibhav’s batting style is already different from many players his age, allowing him to clear boundaries with ease.

That ability has made him one of the most talked-about young prospects in Indian cricket.

Can he succeed in longer formats?

While impressed by Vaibhav’s T20 exploits, Vengsarkar was cautious about predicting his success in Test cricket.

He admitted he has not yet seen enough of the youngster in longer-format cricket.

“It’s very difficult to say right now because he is mainly playing T20 cricket,” he explained.

Still, he believes the teenager has the skill to adapt if given time.

The Sachin comparison

Interestingly, Vengsarkar also drew lessons from Sachin Tendulkar’s early journey.

Recalling how Sachin was mentally prepared to play senior cricket at a very young age, Vengsarkar said Vaibhav can learn from the legend’s discipline, focus, and passion.

“When I saw Sachin, he looked mentally mature beyond his age,” Vengsarkar said.

That comparison alone shows the level of expectation building around Vaibhav.

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Backing Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy

Apart from speaking about Vaibhav, Vengsarkar also backed Shreyas Iyer, who recently began his journey as India’s T20I captain.

He called Iyer a thoughtful leader who leads from the front with his batting.

“He has the qualities to succeed as captain,” Vengsarkar said.

Support for Sarfaraz, Padikkal, Hardik and Rohit

Vengsarkar also made strong comments on several senior and fringe Indian players.

He said Sarfaraz Khan and Devdutt Padikkal deserve a longer run in India’s Test side, recalling their important partnership in Dharamsala against England.

On Hardik Pandya, he said fitness management will be the key to extending his career.

And regarding Rohit Sharma and the 2027 ODI World Cup, Vengsarkar made it clear that the final call should rest solely with the veteran batter.

For now though, much of the spotlight remains firmly on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi—a teenager whose fearless batting is already turning cricket’s biggest heads.