Sooryavanshi targeting Test cricket? Young batter’s conversation with Gavaskar c
A New Star Emerges in Indian Cricket
The conclusion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season marked a historic moment for the tournament, with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru clinching the title. However, the true story of the season was the meteoric rise of 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Winning a plethora of individual awards and finishing as the tournament’s highest run-getter, the youngster has captured the imagination of the entire cricketing nation.
The Conversation That Sparked Speculation
Immediately following the final in Ahmedabad, a candid moment between the young prodigy and legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar caught the attention of fans and experts alike. In an insightful exchange, Gavaskar inquired whether the teenager was focusing on refining his ground strokes given his T20-oriented success. Sooryavanshi’s response revealed a maturity well beyond his years.
“Yes, I am, because the next assignment is an ODI series,” Sooryavanshi noted. “I am also currently practicing with the red ball. Until now, no one has seen me do that, but pretty soon, everyone will.” This statement fueled the narrative regarding Sooryavanshi targeting Test cricket? Young batter’s conversation with Gavaskar c, proving that the youngster is already planning his transition to the game’s ultimate format.
Redefining T20 Batting
Discussing his aggressive style of play, the Bihar-based batter clarified that his power-hitting is calculated rather than reckless. “Everyone thinks that I am just a player who loves to hit every ball. Since this is T20 cricket, coaches have given me the freedom, and my thought process is to hit the ball if it’s in my range. I don’t like to play lofted shots out of compulsion,” he explained. His record speaks for itself; this season, he smashed an incredible 72 sixes, comfortably eclipsing the 59-six record held by Chris Gayle from the 2012 season.
The Dream of Wearing the Whites
Despite his white-ball success, Sooryavanshi remains grounded in his ambition for the longest format. “I want to play Tests. My father always tells me that the ultimate format is the five-day game,” he said. Reflecting on his limited experience in the Ranji Trophy, he acknowledged the difficulty of the transition, adding, “I haven’t played much with the red ball, and while I haven’t received many chances in the Ranji Trophy yet, it has been a challenging experience. I will continue to work on my game.”>
The Master’s Endorsement
The young star has also received high praise from Sachin Tendulkar. Speaking at the Cricinfo honours show, the former Indian legend emphasized that talent of this magnitude must be nurtured with care. “Exciting talent has to be encouraged. If he is doing well, then we need to support him and let him enjoy his game without putting any pressure on him,” Tendulkar remarked.
Tendulkar was careful to avoid putting unnecessary weight on the selectors, stating, “One cannot tell the selectors to pick a player for a certain format, because that is their job. With Ajit Agarkar sitting here, I have to be careful with my words, just like everybody else. Even I am excited to see Vaibhav play Test cricket at some stage, but I do not know when that will be.”
As the cricket world looks forward to the next cycle of international fixtures, the focus will undoubtedly remain on whether this young talent can successfully bridge the gap between explosive T20 hitting and the technical requirements of Test cricket.
