Virender Sehwag, David Warner and Rishabh Pant were once highlighted as players whose explosive instincts could translate instantly to white-ball cricket. Yet their Test records have repeatedly shown that their talent goes deeper than mere hitting power. That same argument is now being applied to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the 15-year-old batter who has been turning heads in the IPL 2026—prompting calls for India to consider him for Tests as well, potentially even if he bats at No. 5.
IPL surge puts Vaibhav on the Test debate
Sooryavanshi, a left-handed opener for the Rajasthan Royals, has been setting the tempo in the IPL 2026 and has quickly become one of the most talked-about youngsters in the tournament. With excitement building around his performances, a growing chorus believes he could be handed a debut in the upcoming T20I series against Ireland next month.
Alongside that conversation, another idea has emerged: how Sooryavanshi’s game could suit the demands of Test cricket—especially if he is promoted to the pivotal No. 5 spot, where the role often requires both aggression and the ability to shift gears.
Aaron Finch backs the “impact player” theory
Former Australia ODI and T20I captain Aaron Finch believes Test cricket will always make space for players who can change matches with their influence. In Finch’s view, Sooryavanshi fits that category and could be given a chance, with the potential to bring the same sort of threat that Pant has offered in his spells at the crease.
- Finch pointed to the value of “impact players” in Tests, highlighting that Rishabh Pant’s unpredictability is a major difference-maker.
- He argued that Sooryavanshi could be tested in a similar way, suggesting his style can unsettle opponents.
- Finch also linked Sooryavanshi’s early-innings T20 effectiveness—especially against the new ball—to what he might achieve in Tests if he bats at No. 5.
Finch said, “There’s a place in Test cricket for impact players like that… Think of Rishabh Pant and the point of difference he has—he’s one player who can put real fear into an opposition because he’s unpredictable.” He added: “We’ve seen what Vaibhav can do against the new ball in T20. If he batted at five in Test cricket against a 50-over old ball, what could he do there?”
Rare setback in IPL 2026, but numbers stay strong
Despite Sooryavanshi’s strong run of form, he suffered a rare failure on Friday. The Rajasthan Royals batter lasted only two balls against the Delhi Capitals. He opened his account with a boundary, but was then dismissed on the next delivery—bowled by Kyle Jamieson.
Orange Cap position and tournament output
- Sooryavanshi sits third on the Orange Cap leaderboard.
- He has scored 404 runs in 10 matches.
- His average is 40.40.
- His strike rate is 237.64.
Finch praises fearless batting and match awareness
Finch also focused on what he considers Sooryavanshi’s most important trait: he bats without fear, even when facing the top-quality bowlers. Beyond the aggression, Finch believes the youngster shows an unusually advanced sense for when to accelerate and when to manage game situations.
Finch said the most striking part is how quickly Sooryavanshi can make an impact from the very first ball. He described it as a skill that stands out even when the batter is up against the best bowlers in the world. Finch also stressed that as a 15-year-old, maturity at that level is rare.
“The thing that astounds me is his ability to strike the ball from ball one. Even against the best bowlers in the world, he walks out; he’s got no fear, but he also has the ability to sum up game situations as well. As a 15-year-old, that’s an incredible skill to have. He’s mature way beyond his years,” Finch said.
He added: “I don’t know what you were doing at 15, but I certainly wasn’t contemplating thumping Kagiso Rabada and Bumrah and Cummins all around the park, it’s just an extraordinary level of skill he has.”
