Steve Waugh compares Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to Adam Gilchrist and Don Bradman as once-in-a-lifetime talent

Former Australian captain Steve Waugh has assessed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as a transformative talent in modern cricket. The 15-year-old has made an immediate impact on the T20 format through his aggressive batting and match-winning performances. Waugh's assessment places Sooryavanshi among the rarest category of cricketers whose playing style fundamentally alters how the game is understood and played.

Waugh drew direct comparisons between Sooryavanshi and two of cricket's greatest players. He highlighted how Adam Gilchrist changed Test cricket through his aggressive wicketkeeping and batting approach, and how Donald Bradman redefined batting standards before him. According to Waugh, very few players possess the ability to reshape the sport in such a manner.

"He's a once-in-a-lifetime player. He has already changed T20 cricket. Very few players change the way a game is played. He will be recognised as a legend of the game because of that," Waugh said on Wisden.

"Gilchrist did that a bit in Test cricket; Bradman did that before that. Very few players have the ability to do that. So what he has done at such a young age is incredible," he added.

Challenges and opposition analysis lie ahead

Sooryavanshi's rise has been rapid and remarkable. He was named Player of the Series at the 2026 ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup, where he scored 439 runs across seven innings at an average of 62.71 with a strike rate of 169.49. His unbeaten 175 off 80 balls in the final earned him the Player of the Match award. In the Indian Premier League 2026, he was the leading run-scorer with 776 runs for Rajasthan Royals and was named the MVP (Most Valuable Player).

Waugh acknowledged that Sooryavanshi will face significant challenges as his career progresses. Opposition teams will intensify their analysis of his batting patterns, footwork and scoring areas now that he has established himself as a major threat. The former captain warned that difficult periods are inevitable for any cricketer, regardless of talent or current form.

"His down times will undoubtedly come. No one is invincible, and you can't be successful at all times. Oppositions will do more analysis on him now," Waugh said.

"They'll look at everything like how, where he scores runs and his footwork, among other things. So he's going to have some tough times ahead. But he looks very confident and has enormous talent," he added.

Also Read: 'Test cricket needs players to play all formats' - Rahul Dravid on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Waugh stressed the importance of Sooryavanshi surrounding himself with trusted advisors who can guide him through both successful and challenging phases. The young player will receive counsel from many quarters as his profile grows, making it essential that he identifies the few people whose judgment he can rely upon. Maintaining perspective and staying grounded will be crucial to his long-term development.

"As long as he has people around him to keep him grounded and stay the person he always was, he'll be fine. He shouldn't get too carried away when things are going well and not too down when they aren't going well. He must have one or two people he really trusts and can listen to because he'll have a lot of people with a lot of advice. So he has to identify the people he can really trust," Waugh said.