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Sooryavanshi has emerged as one of the most exciting young names in Indian cricket (Img: Internet)
New Delhi: Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has advised Indian cricket to carefully shape the development of teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, saying the youngster must be prepared for Test and ODI cricket instead of becoming only a T20 specialist.
The former cricketer believes Sooryavanshi’s biggest challenge is yet to come, especially once he enters the demands of longer-format cricket.
Sooryavanshi has emerged as one of the most exciting young names in Indian cricket over the past year. The 15-year-old grabbed attention with consistent performances in youth tournaments across England, South Africa and Australia.
His unbeaten 175 in the Under-19 World Cup final also played a major role in India securing a sixth title in the tournament.
The youngster’s fearless batting style and aggressive approach have already sparked conversations about his future at the international level, with several former cricketers backing him as a future T20 opener for India.
Despite the growing hype, de Villiers believes the real examination of Sooryavanshi’s ability will come in red-ball cricket. Speaking on the “For the Love of Cricket” podcast hosted by Stuart Broad and Jos Buttler, de Villiers said longer formats demand a completely different mental and physical approach.
According to him, the teenager could enjoy a long and successful career as a T20 specialist, but entering ODI and Test cricket would expose him to new challenges.
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De Villiers said players discover a different side of themselves once they face the pressures of batting for long periods, adapting to changing conditions and handling setbacks over multiple sessions.
The former South African captain also acknowledged the pressure that naturally follows young players who achieve fame early in their careers. However, he backed Sooryavanshi’s talent and ability to overcome obstacles in the future.
De Villiers described the journey ahead as a “rocky road” but expressed hope that the youngster would eventually represent India in Test cricket. He added that watching Sooryavanshi evolve into a complete cricketer across formats would be exciting for fans and the sport alike.
