Navigating the leap from white-ball sensation to red-ball stalwart requires careful career management, according to Rahul Dravid. Fresh off a standout IPL campaign and an England T20I debut in June, 15-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi now faces a fresh test as he takes the field for East Zone in the Duleep Trophy.
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Despite the intense spotlight, Sooryavanshi's long-form record reflects the early struggles typical of youth. Across 12 Ranji Trophy Plate League innings, often fragmented by national Under-19 duty—he averages just 17.25. Addressing these early stats, Dravid stressed to Cricinfo that combining franchise exposure with domestic multi-day cricket provides the crucial environment needed to sharpen the teenager's game over time.
We need players like Sooryavanshi to be able to play all formats: Rahul Dravid
For Dravid, developing all-format capabilities in players like Sooryavanshi isn't just about individual success; it is vital for the health of red-ball cricket. He highlighted that ensuring young stars build a genuine affinity and technical base for the longest format is essential to keeping Test cricket thriving for generations to come.
“All of us also want to see Tests survive, all of us want to see Tests grow and we need players like him to be able to hopefully play all formats of the game," Dravid said.
Having mentored Vaibhav Sooryavanshi at Rajasthan Royals during IPL 2025, Rahul Dravid views extended red-ball exposure as a crucial piece of the youngster's puzzle. Given that the 15-year-old’s early career has leaned heavily toward short-form matches, Dravid stresses that a steady run in multi-day cricket will give him the room to learn the nuances of long-format play.
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All eyes on Sooryavanshi's Duleep Trophy campaign
The former Indian captain urged observers to keep expectations grounded despite the teenager's immediate, explosive rise. Dravid pointed out that Sooryavanshi’s developmental path will naturally include periods of struggle, emphasizing that cricket fans and analysts must afford the young prodigy time and patience as he navigates the inevitable bumps along the way.
The upcoming Duleep Trophy offers Sooryavanshi a rare window of uninterrupted red-ball action, guaranteeing him at least two matches, and potentially a third if East Zone advances to the final. This stretch could serve as a springboard into even bigger opportunities, with India A scheduled to face Australia A in a pair of unofficial Tests come September.