Dublin: Rahul Dravid emphasizes need for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in Test cricket
Sooryavanshi’s Rise in White-Ball Cricket
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, a young cricket prodigy, has garnered significant attention for his performances in white-ball cricket. He has notably excelled in the Indian Premier League and earned a Player of the Series award in his second international series. His professional cricket career began in 2024, with 2026 marking a breakthrough year for the player. During the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup campaign, Sooryavanshi played a pivotal role for India Under-19, scoring 175 in the final to help secure India’s title.
In the IPL, he emerged as the leading run-scorer for Rajasthan Royals, accumulating 776 runs in the season. Following this, he delivered a rapid 94 runs off 29 balls against Sri Lanka ‘A’ in a List-A tri-series final held in Colombo. His international debut occurred in July against England, but it was during the subsequent tour of Zimbabwe that he truly distinguished himself, leading the scoring charts with 151 runs and receiving the Player of the Series award.
Balancing Formats and Red-Ball Development
Despite his success in white-ball cricket, Sooryavanshi’s experience in red-ball cricket has been more limited. He has participated in eight first-class games, maintaining an average of 17.25. This area is identified as one where he can gain more experience and improve. Former India head coach Rahul Dravid has highlighted the importance of balancing Sooryavanshi’s white-ball commitments with opportunities in red-ball cricket.
Dravid, speaking at an event in Dublin, expressed his belief that it is beneficial for Sooryavanshi to gain experience in both formats. He noted that while playing in the IPL provides valuable white-ball experience, it is equally important for the player to return to the Indian domestic system to develop his red-ball career. Dravid emphasized that the survival and growth of Test cricket depend on players like Sooryavanshi being able to compete across all formats of the game.
Sooryavanshi is scheduled to represent East Zone in the upcoming Duleep Trophy, one of India’s premier domestic red-ball competitions. This tournament offers him a chance for sustained involvement in first-class cricket, which has been less frequent due to his age-group commitments and rapid ascent in white-ball cricket. Dravid, who coached Sooryavanshi at Rajasthan Royals during IPL 2025, views this period of red-ball cricket as crucial for his development.
Patience and Future Prospects
Dravid has called for patience regarding Sooryavanshi’s development, acknowledging that the player is only 15 years old and requires time to grow. He stated that while Sooryavanshi has achieved immediate success, he will inevitably encounter challenges and that patience from observers will be necessary. Dravid cautioned against expecting his white-ball success to immediately translate to the longer format, suggesting that there might be periods where performance does not meet expectations.
The Duleep Trophy is expected to provide Sooryavanshi with at least two consecutive red-ball matches, assuming East Zone progresses in the competition, potentially leading to further first-class opportunities. Dravid believes that this exposure to red-ball cricket is essential for the young player to enhance his skills in the format. He hopes that if Sooryavanshi performs well in red-ball cricket, similar to his achievements in white-ball cricket, he could eventually become a red-ball player for India, which would be a significant development for the global game.
The former India head coach reiterated the importance of a carefully managed pathway for Sooryavanshi, ensuring he receives ample opportunities in red-ball cricket alongside his white-ball commitments. Dravid’s assessment underscores the need for a balanced approach to the young talent’s career, allowing him to develop comprehensively across all forms of the sport.
Source: icc-cricket.com
