Ravichandran Ashwin has backed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi\u2019s push toward Test cricket, arguing that the teenage Rajasthan Royals star should consider the red-ball format even if the wider cricket \u201cecosystem\u201d is steering young players toward shorter, faster versions of the game. The former India off-spinner\u2019s comments came as Sooryavanshi continues to rewrite what many people expect from a modern white-ball batter.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the Cricinfo Honours Awards 2026\u2014where he was also honoured among the 25 Greatest Men\u2019s International Cricketers of the 21st Century\u2014Ashwin discussed whether the 15-year-old should be encouraged to move into Test cricket.<\/p>\n
His message was clear but nuanced: in Ashwin\u2019s view, Sooryavanshi should play Tests for the \u201clarger good of the game\u201d, yet there are limits to what can be forced onto players as they develop. Ashwin also suggested that when the sport itself indicates a path, it can be wiser to follow that guidance than to impose a single route.<\/p>\n
The former India all-rounder also pointed to how aspirants are thinking differently now. He argued that no coach or system can compel a particular facet of cricket to become a young player\u2019s main goal, even if Test cricket remains the pinnacle.<\/p>\n
Drawing on his long experience in grassroots coaching, Ashwin said he does not see emerging talents showing up eager to master red-ball cricket. In his assessment, many young batters will try to survive a phase first, then quickly want to learn the shots that help them avoid getting out\u2014an approach that, in his view, doesn\u2019t naturally align with the demands of longer formats.<\/p>\n
Ashwin\u2019s observations arrive as Sooryavanshi\u2019s momentum has become one of the defining narratives in world cricket. Earlier in 2026, the teenager was named Player of the Tournament as India won the Under-19 Men\u2019s Cricket World Cup.<\/p>\n
He then carried that form into IPL 2026 with Rajasthan Royals, producing a campaign that elevated him into the group of the sport\u2019s most exciting young prospects. His fearless batting and season-long consistency stood out as major reasons he became one of the tournament\u2019s standout performers and further strengthened his reputation.<\/p>\n
While discussing Sooryavanshi, Ashwin also saw his own career recognised at the awards event. He was ranked 25th among the greatest men\u2019s international cricketers of the 21st century, and he has been out of international cricket since December 2024.<\/p>\n
By the time he retired, Ashwin had taken 765 wickets across formats. That total is noted as the second-highest tally by an Indian, behind Anil Kumble\u2019s 953.<\/p>\n
In Test cricket specifically, Ashwin finished with 537 wickets, again placing him second only to Kumble among Indian bowlers. The awards also highlighted his distinctive standing in the game\u2019s history: he is the only player to combine more than five Test centuries with over 500 Test wickets.<\/p>\n
Ashwin\u2019s six Test hundreds were cited as a reminder that, although his reputation was built mainly on his match-winning spin, his batting contributions were also a significant part of his overall value\u2014helping define him as one of the most complete Test cricketers of his era.<\/p>\n
Ravichandran Ashwin has backed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi\u2019s push toward Test cricket, arguing that the teenage Rajasthan Royals star should consider the red-ball format even if the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":14264,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Ashwin on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: IPL to Tests Push","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Ravichandran Ashwin says Vaibhav Sooryavanshi may need time for Tests, despite IPL momentum\u2014explaining the step-up from white-ball promise to red-ball grind.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14265","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n