With momentum already building around Vaibhav Sooryavanshi\u2019s chances of wearing India colours, the latest backing is even bolder: the teenager is being tipped to earn a place in the Test XI. At just 15 years old, Sooryavanshi has made enough progress over the past year to spark genuine excitement among former players, who are keen to see him step out in the Indian Test arena. Sooryavanshi\u2019s experience so far has been dominated by T20 cricket, with occasional outings in the one-day format, while red-ball work has come far less frequently. He has played only eight First-Class matches, though he does have a few Youth Tests to his name. The long-term view is that he could become a serious Test prospect, but for now, his best fit appears to be the format where he has already shown his strongest returns.<\/p>\n
That view is echoed by Zubin Bharucha, Sooryavanshi\u2019s mentor and the figure credited with bringing him into the Rajasthan Royals setup. Bharucha believes the smartest move for the youngster\u2014both for his development and for the bigger picture\u2014is to take the plunge with an India debut sooner rather than later. In making that case, Bharucha reaches back to 1989, recalling how the BCCI backed a young Sachin Tendulkar and handed him his Test cap against Pakistan. Bharucha argues that the only way to properly judge a player\u2019s composure is to throw him into the demanding environment and see how he handles it under pressure.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a difficult one because, honestly, if you look at it from any sort of metric\u2014score, strike-rate, runs\u2014he is already ahead of so many people waiting in the line. I actually feel they need to take that leap of faith, as they did with Sachin Tendulkar, and blood him straightaway,\u201d Bharucha said to Wisden. \u201cOnly by throwing him into the deep end can one truly measure the level-headedness of a 15-year-old.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Bharucha is clear that Sooryavanshi should be tested in the Tests, he also believes the youngster\u2019s ceiling is not limited to the role of an opener. Sooryavanshi has opened throughout his career, but according to his mentor, his most natural impact could arrive in the lower middle order\u2014an area where India\u2019s Test structure has recently relied on players such as Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja. Bharucha suggests that with a few adjustments to his technique and decision-making, Sooryavanshi could be set up for something special in that phase of an innings.<\/p>\n
Bharucha\u2019s starting point is technical. \u201cMy belief is that technically, he doesn\u2019t commit himself enough. He is always on the back foot, and that to me is the holy grail of batting. So when the ball is moving, if you don\u2019t commit your front foot\u2014that is talking about the greats of the greats. The question is whether we can get him to follow the same sequence when the ball is moving. I also feel that opening isn\u2019t his calling. He has so much more to offer, that we would be amiss to suggest he goes into the opening slot straightaway,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
He then outlined a possible starting plan for the Test format. \u201cI won\u2019t put him at 4 at the moment. He is slightly behind that. Numbers 5-6 might be a better entry point, where he can potentially come in around the 60th or the 70th over, and then pile on a quickfire 40-50. After that, when the new ball arrives somewhere along the way, he can learn to manage it as well. My long-term thought is that if we can help him understand the nuances of the moving ball\u2014how he deals with it in different combinations\u2014then his range will expand. For example, if there is a Test in Bengaluru, he might still open and score runs, but if he\u2019s playing at Leeds or somewhere else, where the ball isn\u2019t as visible and the crowding of fielders around the batter changes the equation, it could be a challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bharucha concluded by stressing that flexibility could be the final breakthrough. \u201cStill, over time, if he figures it out, he would be equally devastating at the top as he would be lower down the order. That would be the final piece in the jigsaw.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
With momentum already building around Vaibhav Sooryavanshi\u2019s chances of wearing India colours, the latest backing is even bolder: the teenager is being tipped to earn…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":8282,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Vaibhav Sooryavanshi IPL to India Test Call-Up News","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Vaibhav Sooryavanshi tipped for an India Test call-up as debate over his batting role grows\u2014what the latest backing says about his next step.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8283","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n