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Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin made a massive statement, backing 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to be handed a Test cap for India in the upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s form has spoken loads about his calibre in the shortest format of the game. Just at the age of 15, he has set new records in T20 cricket while also having surpassed the total runs scored by the likes of Virat Kohli and Ishan Kishan this season.
Underlining his recent surge of form in domestic as well as International cricket for India Under-19, former Indian spinner turned cricket analyst Ravichandran Ashwin opined that he should be handed a chance to feature in red-ball cricket for India.
Key Points
- Ravichandran Ashwin backed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for a possible India Test debut against Afghanistan.
- Ashwin believes the 15-year-old should be considered in red-ball cricket alongside T20s.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has impressed with his performances.
India vs Afghanistan Test: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi India Test debut on cards?
Ex-India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin feels that, given India’s recent struggles in the longest format of the game and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s stardom in this IPL, he should be handed a Test debut for India.
Ashwin opined that he has witnessed him play a youth Test where he scored a stunning century against South Africa, while also having scored centuries against the likes of Australia and England in youth cricket. He felt that Sooryavanshi’s intent could help India have an impact early in the innings.
“Not just white-ball cricket, India should consider him in red-ball cricket as well. The way this guy has been playing, with the amount of form and confidence shown, he should play all forms of cricket,” said Ravichandran Ashwin.
“He is very smart; you will be surprised” – Ravichandran Ashwin on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Ashwin also added that India needs a new regime in Test cricket to induce that passion back within the hearts of the cricketers as well as the fans. He also argued that India has not been playing an amazing brand of Test cricket; hence, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s addition will cause no harm.
“I am saying this because he has that one test against Afghanistan, where many senior batters would not feature. Hence, it is an ideal opportunity to add him to the squad. I think he is a very talented cricketer; he will adapt to the conditions eventually,” opined Ashwin.
“Every match I watch him play, I can witness him learning something or the other and implementing it in the next game. This proves he is a fast learner. He understands the conditions well; he will leave the ball. You will be surprised; he can adapt to all conditions,” he added.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi IPL 2026: RR star setting new standards in T20 power hitting
The 15-year-old youngster has truly entered the evolving era of T20 cricket. The way Sooryavanshi has dominated the format, he has set new standards for his peers and even the senior cricketers in the role.
Previously, the tag for power-hitters was given to players like Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Shahid Afridi, or AB de Villiers, who often batted during the death overs. However, the likes of Abhishek Sharma, Sooryavanshi, Priyansh Arya, and more have made a reputation by striking the ball fearlessly within the powerplay.
With the likes of Chris Gayle and David Warner being the fierce strikers of the white ball in the past, even they never batted with a whopping strike rate of 250 in almost nine out of ten games they played in a season. Though the power play was utilised, players often tended to accelerate after having seen the ball for the first two to three overs.
Sooryavanshi has amassed 359 runs while striking at 242 only within the powerplay; such has been his standard in the game. He has also hit a record number of 32 sixes in the powerplay alone.
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