Vaibhav Suryavanshi Has already achieved many achievements at the age when most of the young cricketers are starting their career in domestic cricket. in 2025 Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the age of 14 for IPL After debuting in, this young player ipl 2026 He continued his impressive run-scoring streak and finished the season as the tournament's leading run-scorer. His performances also earned him selection in the India team and his senior international debut against England.
Now when Suryavanshi Duleep Trophy Ready to play in, ex India Captain and Head Coach Rahul Dravid talked about the next step in his development and what is needed for the young player moving forward.
Rahul Dravid underlined the importance of red-ball cricket
Dravid believes that Suryavanshi can benefit a lot from playing both white ball and red ball cricket at this stage. The former India coach pointed out that the youngster has already gained valuable experience through the IPL, but now he has the opportunity to develop his red-ball game through domestic cricket. Dravid also stressed that having players who can succeed in different formats is important for the future of Test cricket.
“I think you always need to find that balance. And I think it's a great thing that Vaibhav is getting the experience of playing some white-ball cricket through the IPL in India, but he also has the time to go back into the Indian domestic system and play red-ball cricket and develop his red-ball career. We also all want to see Tests survive, we all want to see Tests grow and we need players like him to play across all formats,” Dravid told ESPNcricinfo.
Dravid urged to be patient towards Vaibhav Suryavanshi
Dravid, who was the head coach of Rajasthan Royals during the 2025 IPL season, played a key role in Suryavanshi's early development. He believes that exposure to regular red-ball cricket can add another dimension to a young player's game. The former India captain reminded everyone that Suryavanshi is still only 15 years old and will naturally face ups and downs despite his unique start.
“The good thing is that he will take some time, he will need some experience, he will get the opportunity to play a lot of red ball cricket. He is only 15 and I think you just have to give him some time and be patient with him,” Dravid concluded.
Suryavanshi's upcoming Duleep Trophy trip will therefore provide him another opportunity to gain valuable experience in the longer format. The priority for Dravid is clear: to give the young player enough time to develop and provide him opportunities to grow in all three formats.