The Curious Case of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: Rahul Dravid Weighs in on Teen Prodigy’s Test Future
NEW DELHI: In the high-octane world of modern cricket, few names have generated as much buzz as 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The left-handed prodigy has taken white-ball cricket by storm, but as his international stock rises, cricket legend Rahul Dravid has voiced a significant concern regarding the teenager’s transition to the longest format of the game.
A Meteoric Rise in White-Ball Cricket
Sooryavanshi’s ascent has been nothing short of extraordinary. After finishing the 2026 IPL season as the Rajasthan Royals’ leading run-scorer with 776 runs, he cemented his reputation as a destructive force by smashing 94 off just 29 balls against Sri Lanka ‘A’ in the List A tri-series final.
His international resume is equally impressive. Following his debut against England in July, Sooryavanshi dominated the tour of Zimbabwe, finishing as the series’ highest run-scorer and earning the Player of the Series award. Across six T20I innings, he has accumulated 193 runs at a blistering strike rate of 189.21.
The Red-Ball Hurdle
Despite his white-ball dominance, Sooryavanshi’s journey in first-class cricket has been more measured. Currently boasting an average of 17.25 after eight matches, he is now turning his attention to the Duleep Trophy to refine his technique for the rigors of red-ball cricket.
However, former India head coach Rahul Dravid suggests that the barrier to Test success is not talent, but time. Speaking on JioHotstar, Dravid noted that while Sooryavanshi possesses the raw ability to thrive at the highest level, the sheer volume of his international white-ball commitments may hinder his development in the longer format.
“With Vaibhav, you’ve got to be patient,” Dravid said. “I have no doubt that, given the opportunity to practice and play domestic cricket and a couple of seasons of red-ball cricket, he will be able to hold his own in a Test match team.”
Dravid added, “A tricky one is whether he’ll have the time to play two full seasons of domestic cricket because he’ll be so busy playing for India in the white-ball format. I’m not sure about that.”
Showing Grit in the Duleep Trophy
Evidence of Sooryavanshi’s versatility was on display during East Zone’s recent Duleep Trophy quarter-final against North East Zone. While he had a brief stint with the bat—scoring eight runs before falling to Bishworjit Konthoujam—the teenager showcased his value as an all-rounder.
Serving as East Zone’s vice-captain, Sooryavanshi proved his mettle with the ball, claiming two wickets in just four deliveries. His clinical dismissals of Kishan Lyngdoh and Imliwati Lemtur displayed not just natural talent, but a burgeoning tactical maturity.
As the cricketing world watches, the challenge for Sooryavanshi will be balancing the demands of being a T20 superstar while honing the patience and endurance required for the Test arena. For now, the “tricky” question remains: will the schedule allow the youngster the time he needs to become a true all-format master?
