Rahul Dravid says Vaibhav Sooryavanshi can give Test cricket an 'exciting future'

Rahul Dravid told Cricinfo on 22 August 2026 that 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could give Test cricket an "exciting future" as the teenager prepares to play for East Zone in the Duleep Trophy, and the former India captain said Sooryavanshi's development must be carefully managed. Dravid, who coached Sooryavanshi at Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025, warned patience will be required as the batsman begins a new phase in red-ball cricket.

Sooryavanshi is set to feature for East Zone in the Duleep Trophy, an opportunity to build continuity in the longer format after a period of significant impact in white-ball cricket. Dravid said that finding the right balance between formats could determine whether the teenager becomes an all-format player. "Hopefully someday if he does well and performs well like he has in white-ball cricket, he might become a red-ball player for India," Dravid told Cricinfo. "And how exciting that would be for the world game as well."

The teenager has played only eight first-class matches and averages 17.25, and his appearances in red-ball cricket have lacked the sustained run that helps build an extended first-class career. The Duleep Trophy offers the continuity Dravid believes Sooryavanshi needs to gain innings-building experience. "I think you always have to find that balance," Dravid said.

Dravid emphasised that exposure in red-ball cricket is more important than rushing Sooryavanshi back into a continuous cycle of T20 tournaments. "And I think it's a great thing that Vaibhav is getting the experience of playing some white-ball cricket through the IPL in India, but he's also having the time to go back and play red-ball cricket in the Indian domestic system and grow his red-ball career," he said.

Transitioning from T20 to the longer format will require adjustments to technique and temperament: Sooryavanshi has shown the ability to dominate bowling with aggressive strokeplay, but first-class cricket will test his capacity to build an innings, absorb pressure and maintain concentration. Dravid underlined that the youngster will need time and match experience. "The good thing is he's going to take some time, he's going to need some experience, he's going to get an opportunity to play a lot of red-ball cricket," Dravid said. "He's not played as much red-ball cricket as probably white-ball cricket."

Dravid warned that progress will not be linear and urged patience from supporters and selectors alike. "He's only 15 and I think you've got to just give him some time and you've got to be patient with him," he said. "He's obviously been such a success straightaway, right, but he's going to go through his ups and downs and I think people are going to have to be patient with him." He added: "I think he's going to have some success but he also might have periods where it probably doesn't work out well for him. But let's all remember he's only 15 and he has a long way to go."

Dravid framed Sooryavanshi's red-ball development as important for the broader health of Test cricket, which competes for players' time with the global T20 landscape. "All of us also want to see Test cricket survive, all of us want to see Test cricket grow, and we need players like him to be able to hopefully play all formats of the game," Dravid said. He also noted: "Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, by not playing in T20 competitions all over the world, is actually playing in the red-ball Indian domestic competition. He's growing, he's getting better at red-ball skills," he said.

For now, Sooryavanshi's immediate task is to make the most of the Duleep Trophy and gain the experience that Dravid believes he needs. More red-ball cricket could follow when India A face Australia A in two unofficial Tests in September.