Sooryavanshi will pass Test with flying colours

Rajasthan Royals opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during the match against Mumbai Indians in Guwahati recently. Pic/IPL

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has become the talk of the cricketing world. Fans everywhere are excited by his fearless approach, and among his admirers are two of India's greatest cricketers - Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar.

Sunil Gavaskar has gone a step further, describing Vaibhav as "God's gift to Indian cricket." Such praise from a legend like Gavaskar is rare and speaks volumes about the young batter's potential.

Sachin Tendulkar has also been highly impressed, saying: "I watched him bat and it was magnificent. He's truly special, and not just because of his ability to hit the ball, what fascinated me was his wrist work." Sachin's observation is spot on. The youngster possesses a natural instinct for picking up line and length earlier than most batsmen. More importantly, he has already shown the ability to adapt to different situations.

One innings may see him blast 97 off just 27 balls while another finds him scoring a measured 96 off 55 deliveries when batting conditions are difficult and wickets are falling at the other end. That ability to change gears according to the demands of the match is a sign of cricketing intelligence. Sooryavanshi's partnership with Ravindra Jadeja in Qualifier 2 highlighted this quality even further. Jadeja, who has watched and guided many young cricketers, encouraged the youngster to play his natural game while taking the supporting role himself. It was a mature partnership and an indication that Sooryavanshi understands the rhythm of an innings.

The history of Indian cricket offers several examples of players adapting their game across formats. Tendulkar began his first-class career, graduated to Test cricket batting at No. 4 and then reinvented himself as an opening batter in ODIs before then adjusting when T20 cricket and the IPL arrived. Sachin's journey strengthened my belief that a great Test cricketer can adapt, not only to different pitch conditions and match situations, but also to different formats of the game. Rahul Dravid, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and many others have proved this time and again.

Sooryavanshi has already shown that he can be a superstar in T20 cricket, but what excites me even more is his ability to adjust his game according to the conditions. Those contrasting innings - one explosive and one controlled - suggest that he is not merely a power hitter, but a thinking cricketer. That gives me confidence that he can adapt to red-ball cricket as naturally as a fish takes to water.

This is where coaches and selectors will play an important role. Young players inevitably face failures. During those difficult phases, they need support, patience, and encouragement. A helping hand is often needed when a player is down. Once he regains confidence and starts running again, it's best to let him express himself freely.

Success in First-Class and Test cricket is what ultimately proves the quality of a cricketer. Consistent performances at home establish a player's credentials. Performing consistently in challenging overseas conditions - on the fast and bouncy pitches of Australia and South Africa, or the seaming tracks of England and New Zealand - elevates a player to greatness.

And when a cricketer performs successfully in all conditions, both home and away, over a decade or more, he enters the realm of legends. Gavaskar, Tendulkar, and Dravid are among those rare names.

So, Vaibhav has a long way to go. He's only a teenager and has not yet entered the demanding world of long-form cricket, where skill, temperament, patience, and cricketing intelligence are tested repeatedly. The transition from T20 cricket to Test cricket is never easy. White-ball success does not automatically guarantee red-ball success. Waiting for him are experienced First-Class bowlers, who have spent years, mastering the art of exploiting difficult conditions.
That will be his real examination.

For now, he remains a young boy with extraordinary promise. The road ahead is long, and many challenges await, but if he continues to learn, adapt, and grow, Indian cricket may indeed have found a very special talent.

When Tendulkar made his mark as a teenager, he inspired millions, and raised the expectations of parents, who dreamed of seeing their own children play for India at a young age. Now, Sooryavanshi has pushed those expectations even higher.

While such success stories inspire young cricketers, they also create added pressure. Many talented youngsters find themselves carrying, not only their own dreams, but also the hopes and ambitions of their families. The challenge for parents and coaches is to encourage talent without burdening children with unrealistic expectations. Every player's journey is different, and greatness cannot be rushed.

The writer was a part of India's 1983 World Cup-winning team.

One
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the first player to score a century in each of his first two IPL seasons

440
No. of balls taken by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to reach 1000 IPL runs - the fastest ever

776
No. of runs scored by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi - the most by an uncapped batter in an IPL season

Three
No. of innings in which Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has hammered 10-plus sixes - the most for any player in one IPL season