- Sooryavanshi prepares for Duleep Trophy, focusing on red-ball skills.
- Coach emphasizes mental adjustment for sustained first-class innings.
- He needs consistent big scores for India Test team consideration.
- Currently, his first-class average is 17.25, needing improvement.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has already made a major impact in T20 cricket at just 15, but his childhood coach Manish Ojha believes the teenager still has plenty of work to do before he can seriously target a place in India’s Test team.
Sooryavanshi is now preparing for a different challenge in the Duleep Trophy, where he will return to red-ball cricket with East Zone. Ojha believes the tournament can play an important role in his development.
Sooryavanshi Has Red-Ball Experience, Says Coach
Speaking to The Indian Express, Ojha said Sooryavanshi’s early training was largely based around red-ball cricket, with white-ball cricket becoming a bigger part of his game later.
“From the time he started, much of his practice has happened against the red-ball. The white-ball came up much later.”
However, Ojha believes adapting to the demands of first-class cricket will require a significant change in mindset.
The teenager has built his reputation on aggressive strokeplay, particularly in T20 cricket. Ojha said he will now need to learn when to attack and when to absorb pressure against the new ball.
“The biggest adjustment he has to make will be on the mental side,” Ojha said.
He added that Sooryavanshi cannot approach every delivery with the same attacking intent and must learn to wait for the right balls.
‘Show The World You Can Play 300 Deliveries’
Ojha believes Sooryavanshi’s biggest challenge in red-ball cricket will be learning how to construct long innings.
“He has to learn to ride the wave, bat in different gears and learn the art of constructing an innings. Show the world you can play 300 deliveries,” he said.
The Duleep Trophy will therefore give the teenager valuable exposure to longer spells at the crease and the demands of sustained concentration.
Sooryavanshi has been named vice-captain of East Zone for the tournament, adding another responsibility to his domestic campaign.
What Will It Take For Sooryavanshi To Play Tests For India?
Ojha has urged patience, pointing out that Sooryavanshi is still only 15 and has time to develop his red-ball game.
His first-class numbers also show why there is still work to be done. Sooryavanshi has scored 207 runs in 12 first-class innings at an average of 17.25.
He has, however, shown promise in Youth Tests, including two centuries against Australia Under-19.
Ojha believes consistent performances over several seasons will be essential if Sooryavanshi is to enter India’s Test conversation.
“He needs to consistently score centuries and double centuries to be in the reckoning. And it has to happen for two-three years consistently,” he said.
For now, the priority is development rather than rushing towards international red-ball cricket. The Duleep Trophy provides Sooryavanshi with another opportunity to prove that his talent extends beyond T20 cricket.
