India’s 1983 World Cup–winning captain Kapil Dev has urged fans and the media to exercise restraint regarding the intense spotlight surrounding 15-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Warning against premature hype, the legendary all-rounder cited former India cricketer Vinod Kambli as a cautionary example of immense natural potential fading without sustained focus.
While acknowledging Sooryavanshi’s raw talent, Dev emphasized that early skill is merely a starting point in international sports. He noted that a young athlete's true career longevity relies far more on their mental adaptability and how they handle off-field lifestyle shifts as stardom takes hold.
"It is too early right now," Dev said regarding the ongoing frenzy surrounding the teenager. "Is there talent? Yes. But there have been many in cricket who came with immense capability and then faded out. Look at Vinod Kambli. What will we say about that? Vaibhav is young—give him another three years, and then we will talk."
Dev further highlighted that a cricketer's long-term evolution hinges on personal maturity rather than short-term run tallies.
"When his lifestyle changes, his thinking will also change," Dev noted. "We will see what he looks like two years down the line. Observing that shift in mindset and lifestyle is far more critical than just looking at his immediate runs."
The legendary all-rounder advised cricket observers to give the prodigy adequate time to grow naturally within the domestic circuit before declaring him a finished product or setting unmanageable expectations on his career path.
