Among the growing calls for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to earn a senior India debut, former cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has backed the teenage sensation to pursue Test cricket, insisting it would be for the larger good of the game.
The 15-year-old has emerged as one of the brightest young stars in Indian cricket after a stunning IPL 2026 campaign for Rajasthan Royals, where he amassed 776 runs and finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer. While many believe Sooryavanshi is ready for the international stage, Ashwin feels his long-term development should include the demands of red-ball cricket.
Speaking at the Cricinfo Honours Awards 2026, where he was named among the 25 greatest men’s international cricketers of the 21st century, Ashwin stressed the importance of Test cricket despite acknowledging the growing pull of white-ball formats among young players.
“I personally think he should play Test cricket. If you’re thinking about the larger good of the game, then I believe he should. But that said, can you teach your children what they are not willing to learn? You simply can’t,” Ashwin said.
He added, “You cannot force a particular facet of the game. Yes, Test cricket is the pinnacle, but I’ve been involved in grassroots coaching for a long time, and I don’t see young cricketers turning up wanting to play red-ball cricket. They defend a couple of balls and immediately want to learn the shots that will get them out of trouble.”
Ashwin finished his international cricket career in December 2024 with 765 scalps across formats – second-highest for India, only behind Anil Kumble (953). His tally of 537 wickets for India in Test cricket is also second only to Anil Kumble (619).
Ashwin remains the only player in Test history to have claimed more than five Test hundreds (6) to go along with 500 wickets to his name. He is only behind Ian Botham (5) in the tally of nabbing a Test century and five-for in the same Test, having done so four times.