Dravid: Need players like Sooryavanshi to play all formats for Test cricket to grow
Dravid believes Sooryavanshi's development needs to be balanced between the white-ball and red-ball formats
Former India head coach Rahul Dravid has offered a candid assessment of 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's cricketing journey. Dravid, who coached Sooryavanshi during his IPL 2025 stint with Rajasthan Royals, emphasized the significance of providing the young talent with a balanced pathway across formats.
Sooryavanshi, who made his T20I debut in England in June following a standout IPL season, is now set to return to first-class cricket with East Zone in the Duleep Trophy. Despite his impressive white-ball records, Sooryavanshi's domestic red-ball experience remains limited. His average of 17.25 across 12 innings in three Ranji Trophy Plate League matches speaks to the need for more opportunities at the higher level.
Dravid stressed the importance of striking a balance between white-ball and red-ball cricket, highlighting Sooryavanshi's recent exposure through IPL participation. He also underscored the broader goal of developing players capable of excelling in Test cricket, which necessitates sustained red-ball experience for young talents like Sooryavanshi.
The 15-year-old's rapid ascent in the cricketing world has naturally attracted expectations, but Dravid urged against premature judgment. He urged the cricketing community to exercise patience, acknowledging that Sooryavanshi, like any young player, will inevitably face ups and downs on his path to development.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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