At glance:
- Former India cricketer wants Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to make his Test debut
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is rising star in Indian cricket set-up
- Cheteshwar Pujara thinks Test cricket will improve his game
Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara has said that India’s rising young star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should start playing Test cricket.
Pujara believes Test cricket, the purest form of the game, demands patience and hard work, which can help Sooryavanshi improve both his skills and mindset. He added that playing the longest format also earns a player respect from fans, experts, and teammates.
While firmly backing the 15-year-old prodigy to play Test cricket if given the opportunity, Pujara also said that every young cricketer should aspire to play the longest format of the game.
Cheteshwar Pujara Wants to See Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in Test Cricket
Cheteshwar Pujara, who was speaking as an expert on the JioHotstar CTV Hindi feed, shared his thoughts on the young prodigy. Pujara said Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could receive an India call-up in the near future, but added that he hopes the youngster also gets an opportunity in the longer format of the game.
“Vaibhav is such a player who is doing very well in T20 cricket, and he will definitely get a chance in the Indian team. Whether he plays Test cricket or not, only time will tell. If he has the potential, opportunity, time, and he can play his game, then he should definitely play Test cricket, because your temperament, your ability, and the respect that you talk about come from Test cricket. So definitely, Test cricket should be there in each and every young player’s mind,” he said.
“I do agree that Test cricket is the ultimate format of the game, but that doesn’t mean that the white ball specialist players don’t have that ability. If there is a white-ball specialist, like Vaibhav (Sooryavanshi) and Shreyas Iyer, then they should be playing that format. There should be different players for different formats,” he added.
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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Became a Rising Star in Cricket
After making his IPL 2025 debut, the 15-year-old has advanced significantly this year. Due to Sanju Samson’s move to the Chennai Super Kings, he has emerged as a key player in RR’s starting lineup for the 2026 Indian Premier League. In ten games, he has amassed 404 runs at an average of 40.40 while hitting at a rate of 237.64.
He is currently fifth in the Orange Cap race, with one century and two half-centuries to his name. His impressive form has continued throughout the season, making him the team’s highest run-scorer so far.
However, in the last fixture against the Delhi Capitals, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was dismissed for just four runs, and the team failed to secure two points.
Now the team will face off against the Gujarat Titans on Saturday, and he will try to set things right. With six victories and four losses, RR is now ranked fourth in the standings.
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