Vaibhav Sooryavanshi In Indian Test Team! RR Batter Leaves No Stone Unturned

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Begins Red-Ball Preparation [Source: AFP]

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is continuing to impress the world with his rapid rise. After becoming one of the biggest stars of IPL 2026, the 15-year-old has now shifted his focus towards red-ball cricket. 

While many fans know him for his explosive batting in T20s, the youngster has made it clear that he also wants to succeed in the longest format of the game and he focusing hard on developing the skills.

After returning from India's tour of Zimbabwe, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been training at the Rajasthan Royals Academy in Talegaon near Nagpur. 

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Begins Red-Ball Preparation

It is important to note that the franchise's Centre of Excellence is currently hosting a 10-day camp where several Rajasthan Royals players are preparing for the upcoming domestic season. 

Former India batting coach and current Rajasthan Royals assistant coach Vikram Rathour is working closely with the teenager. The focus of the camp is on improving his technique and temperament for multi-day cricket.

Last month, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi received another major responsibility when he was named East Zone vice-captain for the upcoming Duleep Trophy. He will play under the leadership of Ishan Kishan in the prestigious red-ball tournament.

The opportunity comes after an outstanding IPL 2026 season, where he broke several records and earned his maiden India cap at just 15 years of age. Notably, he also impressed during India tour of Zimbabwe, finishing as the leading run-scorer and winning the POTM award.

Now, the Duleep Trophy will give him a chance to prove that he can perform in longer-format cricket as well.

Also Read: Why Was Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Named Vice-Captain Suddenly? Selector Reveals

Can Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Enter India's Test Team?

Although Sooryavanshi has already made his T20I debut, he is equally determined to establish himself in India's Test setup. The 15-year-old is working hard on his red-ball game as he aims to put himself in contention for a place in India's long-term Test plans.

At present, the Indian Test team is going through a transition phase. While KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal remain the first-choice opening pair, the team is still searching for reliable backup openers. 

At the same time, India are yet to find a settled No. 3 batter despite giving opportunities to players like Karun Nair and Sai Sudharsan. As a result, strong performances in domestic red-ball cricket could put young talents like Sooryavanshi on the selectors' radar.

It is worth noting that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has already shown his potential in red-ball cricket at the youth level. At just 13 years and 188 days old, he created history by smashing a 58-ball 100 against Australia U19 in Chennai.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's First-Class Numbers

While Sooryavanshi has dominated white-ball format, his first-class record still has room for improvement. Notably, in 8 FC matches, he has scored 207 runs in 12 innings at an average of 17.25, including one fifty. These numbers are far below the standards he has set in T20 and List A cricket.

Therefore, the upcoming Duleep Trophy will be an important test of both his technique and mental strength against experienced domestic bowlers. The tournament begins in Bengaluru on August 23, with East Zone facing North East Zone at the BCCI CoE.

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