‘Sooryavanshi hasn’t played as much red-ball cricket’: Dravid’s blunt assessment
Former India coach Rahul Dravid has advised 15-year-old cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to balance his white-ball commitments with consistent red-ball experience. Dravid emphasized the necessity of developing well-rounded players to ensure the long-term survival of Test cricket.
Why it matters
The advice highlights the ongoing tension between the rise of lucrative T20 leagues and the traditional development pathways required for Test match excellence.
Former India head coach Rahul Dravid believes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi needs a carefully managed pathway as the 15-year-old begins to make his mark across formats, stressing the importance of giving him enough opportunities in red-ball cricket alongside his white-ball commitments.Sooryavanshi, who enjoyed a breakthrough IPL season before making his T20I debut in England in June, is now set to return to the longer format with East Zone in the Duleep Trophy.While the teenager has already attracted significant attention in white-ball cricket, his first-class record remains modest. He averages 17.25 from 12 innings across three stints in the Ranji Trophy Plate League, with his domestic campaigns interrupted by India U19 commitments.Dravid, who coached Sooryavanshi at Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025, said the youngster's exposure to both formats is a positive development.“I think you always have to find that balance.
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