East Zone's Vaibhav Sooryavanshi plays a shot during the Duleep Trophy match. (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Former India opener Kris Srikkanth believes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has the potential to become one of the biggest names in world cricket, with the teenage sensation already generating an unusual level of excitement around the game.Sooryavanshi, just 15, has continued his rapid rise by making a mark in the Duleep Trophy after already setting the IPL and international stages alight. For Srikkanth, however, the youngster's impact is going beyond numbers — he is making people tune in to cricket they might otherwise have overlooked.“He's playing outstandingly well. He must be encouraged and never be discouraged. If he's moulded properly, he'll be a superstar in the making. He'll bring Test cricket back to its glory. Everyone watched the Duleep Trophy because of him. Even my wife is watching because of him. He'll be a big asset going forward for World cricket,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.

‘He’ll be a superstar in the making’

Sooryavanshi has certainly given fans plenty to watch. After failing to make an impact in East Zone's quarterfinal win over North East Zone, he responded emphatically against Central Zone in the semifinal.The teenager smashed 92 off 81 balls in the first innings and then contributed a crucial 40 in the final innings as East Zone secured a four-wicket victory to book their place in the final.At 15 years and 157 days, Sooryavanshi had already become the youngest batter to score a half-century in Duleep Trophy history, breaking a 57-year-old record.Srikkanth was particularly impressed by the teenager's fearless approach in red-ball cricket and believes there is little reason to question his ability to make the jump to the highest level.“He played incredibly well. How can people even doubt whether this boy on whether he is capable of playing higher-level cricket? He can play every level of cricket, and he is going to rule world cricket shortly in all formats. He's smashing medium pacers with no worries for straight sixes in red-ball cricket. He's toying with the bowlers,” he said.

From IPL sensation to India star

Sooryavanshi's rise has been extraordinary. His breakthrough IPL 2026 campaign with Rajasthan Royals saw him score 776 runs in 16 matches at a staggering strike rate of 237.30, including a century and five fifties. His 72 sixes were an IPL record for a single season, while he collected the Orange Cap, Most Valuable Player, Emerging Player, Super Striker and Super Sixes awards.He subsequently became India's youngest men's international debutant during the T20I series against England. Against Zimbabwe, he scored 151 runs in three matches to help India complete a 3-0 sweep and collected his maiden Player of the Series award.His impact has also extended to age-group cricket. Earlier this year, Sooryavanshi amassed 439 runs at the ICC Under-19 World Cup and was named Player of the Tournament.The BCCI is now taking a cautious, long-term approach to his development. Secretary Devajit Saikia said the board is monitoring the teenager closely and wants his early success to translate into a career similar to those of India's past legends.“We want Vaibhav Sooryavanshi or any player of his stature to continue and serve like Sachin Tendulkar did for the country or other players who in the past became legends,” Saikia said.“So we look at Vaibhav in a very serious manner. He's monitored from every angle and every step he is taking forward in his international career. The BCCI is taking a very close look at his future.”The board's priority, Saikia stressed, is to ensure Sooryavanshi's emergence is not merely a brief burst of teenage brilliance.“You see, the BCCI can be proud that we are promoting a player of the age of 15 years who is already making his mark in the international scenario and we are very cautious that every right step he should take forward so that it should not be a one series or one year wonder,” he said.For now, though, Srikkanth sees something even bigger taking shape — a youngster whose fearless cricket is making people sit up and watch.