Dravid discusses Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s Test cricket prospects
Former India head coach Rahul Dravid has highlighted the importance of nurturing young talent like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for the future of Test cricket. Dravid believes that while Sooryavanshi has achieved significant success in white-ball formats, his development in red-ball cricket is crucial for the game’s longer format.
Sooryavanshi, a 15-year-old talent, is set to participate in the upcoming Duleep Trophy, one of India’s premier domestic red-ball competitions. This opportunity with East Zone marks a return to the longer format for the player, who has primarily gained recognition through his performances in white-ball cricket.
Balancing Formats for Development
Dravid emphasised the need for a balanced approach to Sooryavanshi’s career, allowing him to gain experience in both white-ball and red-ball cricket. He noted that the player’s involvement in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has provided valuable white-ball exposure, while his participation in the Indian domestic system for red-ball cricket is essential for his growth.
“I think you always have to find that balance. And I think it’s a great thing that Vaibhav is getting the experience of playing some white-ball cricket through the IPL in India,” Dravid stated in an interview. He added, “But he’s also having the time to go back and play red-ball cricket in the Indian domestic system and grow his red-ball career.”
Dravid, who coached Sooryavanshi at Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025, views the youngster’s exposure to both formats as a positive development. He stressed that developing players capable of excelling across all formats is vital for the survival and growth of Test cricket.
“All of us also want to see Test cricket survive, all of us want to see Test cricket grow, and we need players like him to be able to hopefully play all formats of the game,” Dravid said.
Sooryavanshi’s Journey and Red-Ball Challenges
Sooryavanshi’s professional cricket career began in 2024, with 2026 proving to be a breakthrough year. He played a significant role in India Under-19‘s successful ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup campaign, scoring a notable 175 runs in the final to help secure India’s title.
His performance in the IPL also stood out, where he was the leading run-scorer for Rajasthan Royals with 776 runs in the season. Following this, he delivered an impactful 94 runs off 29 balls against Sri Lanka ‘A’ in a List-A tri-series final in Colombo.
Sooryavanshi made his international debut against England in July. He then made a strong impression during the subsequent tour of Zimbabwe, where he topped the run-scoring charts with 151 runs and earned the Player of the Series award.
Despite his success in white-ball cricket, red-ball cricket remains an area where Sooryavanshi can further develop. He has appeared sporadically in eight first-class games, with an average of 17.25. His domestic campaigns have sometimes been interrupted by his commitments with India U19.
Patience and Future Prospects
Dravid believes that expectations surrounding Sooryavanshi need to be managed, as the player is still young and requires time to mature. “He’s not played as much red-ball cricket as probably white-ball cricket. He’s only 15 and I think you’ve got to just give him some time and you’ve got to be patient with him,” Dravid advised.
He acknowledged Sooryavanshi’s immediate success but cautioned that the player would experience both highs and lows. “He’s obviously been such a success straightaway, right, but he’s going to go through his ups and downs and I think people are going to have to be patient with him,” Dravid added.
The Duleep Trophy presents another opportunity for Sooryavanshi to accumulate experience in red-ball cricket. Dravid feels that sustained exposure to this format is particularly important given his more limited play compared to white-ball cricket. A successful transition into the Test format, in Dravid’s view, could have a significant impact on the global game.
“Hopefully someday if he does well and performs well like he has in white-ball cricket, he might become a red-ball player for India. And how exciting that would be for the world game as well,” Dravid concluded, underscoring the potential importance of Sooryavanshi’s red-ball development for the future of Indian cricket.
Source: icc-cricket.com
