Former England spinner Monty Panesar has questioned whether India’s teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi can successfully make the transition from T20 cricket to the longer format of Test cricket.
The 15-year-old left-handed batter from Bihar has attracted significant attention after making an impact at a very young age. His aggressive batting and ability to clear the boundaries have made him one of the most talked-about young cricketers in India.
Sooryavanshi recently featured in the Duleep Trophy for East Zone and was part of the team that won the title. He also came close to scoring a century in the semi-final against Central Zone before being dismissed in the 90s.
Speaking on a cricket podcast alongside former Australia captain Michael Clarke, Panesar said he could not currently see Sooryavanshi making the transition to Test cricket. He suggested that the youngster would need to develop his technique further to succeed in the format.
Clarke, however, offered a different view and pointed to players such as Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, who successfully performed across all three formats during their careers.
Clarke said there was no reason why a talented player could not eventually adapt to Test cricket if he developed the necessary skills and experience.
He also highlighted Sooryavanshi’s power and ability to read the ball as some of his strongest qualities at present. According to Clarke, the youngster’s technique can improve as he spends more time touring, training and playing in different conditions.
Sooryavanshi has so far built his reputation largely through limited-overs cricket. His attacking approach and natural ability have attracted attention, but he has comparatively limited experience in red-ball cricket.
The teenager was recently left out of India’s T20I matches against Afghanistan, with Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma preferred in the playing XI. His absence has also led to discussion about how quickly he should be introduced to international cricket and whether he needs more domestic experience before taking on a bigger role.
For now, a Test debut remains some distance away, with Sooryavanshi still at the early stage of his career. His performances in domestic red-ball cricket will likely play an important role in determining whether he can eventually adapt his aggressive style to the demands of Test cricket.
The debate has nevertheless highlighted the expectations surrounding the young batter. While Panesar has raised concerns about his current technique, Clarke believes his natural talent gives him the potential to develop into a player capable of succeeding across formats.
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