The explosive batting that has made Vaibhav Sooryavanshi a household name in the IPL has not yet translated into a place in India's Test setup. A PTI report has revealed that the young batter is currently not part of the national red-ball plans.
Tilak Varma also left out for now
Sooryavanshi is not alone in this situation. Hyderabad all-rounder Tilak Varma's name is also missing from the current Test scheme. Cricket observers say this is hardly a surprise, since the demands of Twenty20 cricket and Test cricket are vastly different, and selectors are clearly in no rush to fast-track either player.
Just 10 first-class matches so far
A look at Sooryavanshi's numbers tells the story: he has played only 10 first-class matches, along with some red-ball experience at the Under-19 level. For a format as demanding and mentally taxing as Test cricket, that body of work is still considered a very early stage. He did offer glimpses of his ability recently, scoring 92 and 40 while playing for East Zone against Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy, but selectors are unwilling to base a Test call-up on just one or two impressive innings. What they want to see is sustained, consistent scoring across domestic cricket before he can knock on the Test team's door.
Duleep Trophy final is the next big test
Sooryavanshi's next major opportunity to prove his consistency comes in the Duleep Trophy final, where his side will face South Zone. A big score on that stage would be hard for the selection committee to ignore and could give real momentum to his Test case.
Rahul Dravid backs him, stresses balance between formats
Former head coach Rahul Dravid recently shared his views on Sooryavanshi's Test prospects. Dravid believes that playing alongside some of the world's best players in T20 leagues like the IPL is sharpening the youngster's game, but it is equally important for him to keep playing red-ball cricket domestically to build technique and mental toughness. According to Dravid, keeping Test cricket vibrant requires versatile young players like Sooryavanshi to become strong across all three formats, so they can eventually represent India in every version of the game.
Batting position still an open question
For now, Sooryavanshi bats as an opener, but given the aggression and strike rate he brings to the crease, several experts believe he could eventually be tried in the middle order, where his hitting could turn matches on their head. Where exactly he settles in the order will likely become clearer as his game develops further.
Could he form India's next opening pair after Rahul?
If Sooryavanshi continues to establish himself as an opener, the equations for India's Test future could get very interesting. Senior opener KL Rahul is currently 34 years old, meaning the Test side will need a fresh, energetic face at the top of the order in the coming years. Should Sooryavanshi maintain his form and fitness, he could eventually pair up with Yashasvi Jaiswal to form a new, aggressive opening combination for Indian Test cricket, one capable of overpowering any bowling attack in the world.
