Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should play all formats: Rahul Dravid

Former India captain and coach Rahul Dravid has expressed his belief that teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should be encouraged to play all formats of cricket. Dravid told ESPNcricinfo that players like Sooryavanshi are essential for the growth of Test cricket, which needs to be sustained and nurtured.

Discussing Sooryavanshi's development, Dravid emphasized the importance of striking a proper balance between playing white-ball cricket in the IPL and red-ball cricket in domestic matches. The 15-year-old has gained valuable experience in the IPL, but Dravid believes it is equally important for him to spend time playing on the red-ball in India.

Sooryavanshi kicked off the new domestic season with East Zone in the Duleep Trophy, providing him with another opportunity to develop his skills in red-ball cricket, which he doesn't have as much exposure to as white-ball cricket. Dravid highlighted that the youngster has a long way to go and needs to be given time to grow and experience the ups and downs of professional cricket.

Dravid also cautioned that Sooryavanshi might face challenging periods in his career despite his early success. However, he urged patience with the young talent, stating that he has a bright future ahead if he can translate his white-ball success into the longer format. Dravid hopes that Sooryavanshi can become a future Test player for India and contribute to the growth of the game globally.