- By Sunny Daud
- Mon, 01 Jun 2026 08:50 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Just a day after Sachin Tendulkar said he would like to see Vaibhav Sooryavanshi play Test cricket in the future, the 15-year-old batting sensation shared his own thoughts on the longest format of the game.
Speaking to Sunil Gavaskar after the IPL 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Sooryavanshi made it clear that Test cricket remains one of his biggest goals. The young opener, who finished as the Orange Cap winner this season, revealed that he has already been putting in hard work with the red ball despite most people only seeing his explosive batting in T20 cricket.
His next assignment will be the One-Day tri-series in Sri Lanka for India A, but he said preparations for red-ball cricket are also underway.
“Yes, I will have to play on the ground because the next assignment is in a one-day format,” he said in conversation with broadcasters. “I have practised a lot with a red ball, but no one has seen me do that, but they will soon.”
‘I want to play Test cricket’
Sooryavanshi also addressed the common belief that he only likes attacking cricket and tries to hit every delivery for a boundary. The youngster explained that his approach depends on the format and the freedom given to him by his coaches in T20 cricket.
“People think I love to hit every ball, but this is the T20 format, and coaches give me a free hand to go all guns blazing. And I hit the ball only because I know I can hit them, and it isn’t out of compulsion.
“I want to play Test cricket, obviously, because my father also taught me that it is the ultimate format, and I have played it as well. I’m yet to play many games, though. I played Ranji Trophy cricket but did not get too many opportunities, and it was challenging for me. But I am going to keep working on that aspect of my game,” the Rajasthan Royals opener said.
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Tendulkar backs the young star
Ahead of the IPL 2026 final, Sachin Tendulkar had praised Sooryavanshi’s talent and expressed his desire to see the teenager represent India in Test cricket one day. Tendulkar made the comments at an event attended by chief selector Ajit Agarkar.
“Not just me, but everyone would want to see him [playing Test cricket] at some stage. I don’t know when that is going to happen. But an exciting talent needs encouragement. And if he’s doing well, then we need to encourage and support him and enjoy above all and not put pressure on him constantly, you know, he should play this, or he shouldn’t be doing this, or he should be picked in whatever squad. Leave that to the guys [selectors] who are responsible for that,” Tendulkar told ESPNCricinfo at an event.
What’s next for Sooryavanshi?
The talented youngster will now turn his attention to India A duties. The tri-series begins on June 9 with India A taking on hosts Sri Lanka A. Led by Tilak Varma, India A will play two matches each against Sri Lanka A and South Africa A before the final, which is scheduled for June 21.