- By Sunny Daud
- Fri, 05 Jun 2026 06:56 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes young batting star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should be fast-tracked into the Test squad. Sooryavanshi has enjoyed a dream IPL 2026 season with Rajasthan Royals, scoring 776 runs and finishing as the Orange Cap winner. His performances have made him one of the most talked-about young cricketers in the country.
Speaking about the youngster, Ashwin said he would like to see Sooryavanshi play the longest format of the game.
“I personally feel he should play Test cricket. If we think about what’s best for the game in the long run, then Test cricket should definitely be part of his journey. But at the same time, you cannot force someone to learn something they are not interested in. The current cricket environment is shaping players in a certain way, and sometimes it’s best to understand what the game itself is demanding,” Ashwin said as quoted by ANI.
He also pointed out that many young cricketers today are more attracted to aggressive batting than the patience required in red-ball cricket.
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“Test cricket is still the highest level of the game, but from what I’ve seen in grassroots coaching, not many youngsters come in with the goal of becoming red-ball players. After defending a few deliveries, they immediately want to learn attacking shots that can get them out of difficult situations,” he added.
Ashwin's cricketing career
Ashwin retired from international cricket in December 2024 after an outstanding career. He finished with 765 wickets across all formats, the second-highest tally for India after Anil Kumble’s 953 wickets.
In Test cricket, Ashwin picked up 537 wickets, again second only to Kumble’s 619. He also achieved several remarkable records with the bat. Ashwin remains the only player in Test history to score more than five centuries and take over 500 wickets. He is also second only to Ian Botham for the most instances of scoring a Test hundred and taking a five-wicket haul in the same match, achieving the feat four times.