Archive · 25 Aug 2026
Rahul Dravid Urges Patience With Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s Red-Ball Development
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is a 15-year-old cricketer from Bihar.
He has played very well in short matches, including the IPL and T20Is.
He also scored 175 runs in an Under-19 World Cup final.
Rahul Dravid says Vaibhav should not be rushed into Test cricket.
Dravid believes Vaibhav needs more practice and a few seasons of longer domestic matches.
Getting into India’s Test team may still be difficult because other batsmen are playing well.
Vaibhav may also be busy playing white-ball cricket for India.
His ability is not the main concern; finding enough time for red-ball cricket is.
Rahul Dravid says India should be patient with 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in red-ball cricket.
Sooryavanshi took two wickets for East Zone after scoring eight in the Duleep Trophy quarter-final.
He became the youngest Indian player to make his international debut, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record.
Sooryavanshi scored 776 runs in 16 IPL matches this season at a strike rate of 237.30.
Dravid says breaking into India’s Test XI could be difficult because current batsmen are performing well and schedules are crowded.
- Who
- Rahul Dravid and 15-year-old Bihar cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
- What
- Dravid advised patience before Sooryavanshi is considered for India’s Test team.
- When
- During Sooryavanshi’s Duleep Trophy quarter-final appearance this week.
- Where
- In the East Zone versus North East Zone Duleep Trophy quarter-final.
- Why
- Dravid believes Sooryavanshi needs domestic red-ball experience, while India’s current Test batsmen are performing well and the international schedule is crowded.
- Age
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is 15 years old.
- Duleep Trophy performance
- He scored eight runs in East Zone’s first innings and took two wickets in North East Zone’s second innings.
- IPL record
- He scored 776 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 237.30.
- International debut
- He became the youngest Indian player to make an international appearance, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record.
- T20I record
- He has scored 193 runs in six T20Is at a strike rate of 189.21.
- First-class experience
- Before the Duleep Trophy match, he had played eight first-class games and averaged 17.25.
- Dravid’s recommendation
- Dravid said Sooryavanshi should receive opportunities to practice and play domestic cricket and gain a couple of red-ball seasons.