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AB de Villiers predicts Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could say he's 'not interested in Test cricket' after India T20I debut originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- AB De Villiers says Vaibhav Sooryavanshi may become the first youngster to skip Test cricket entirely.
- He warns the 15-year-old will face difficult patches that will test his character deeply.
- Sooryavanshi's father has insisted his son won't be a great cricketer until he plays Tests.
AB de Villiers warns Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could choose T20 over Tests
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is 15 years old and has already made his international debut for India in the T20I series against England. He is now the subject of one of cricket's most pressing debates: will the next generation of stars simply skip Test cricket altogether?
Former South Africa captain and Royal Challengers Bengaluru legend AB de Villiers thinks the teenager could become the first youngster to make that exact choice, and he is not sure anyone should be surprised if it happens.
Speaking on the Bombay Sports Exchange Podcast by TOI Sports, De Villiers argued why players like Sooryavanshi might gravitate toward the shortest format and never look back.
"He (Sooryavanshi) could become one of the first youngsters to simply say, 'Sorry, I'm not interested in Test cricket. I'm perfectly happy playing T20 cricket'," the former batsman said.
De Villiers believes the conditions that T20 cricket creates for batters include shorter spells to face, only two fielders permitted outside the circle during the powerplay, and generally flatter pitches that favour the bat.
MORE: 'You cannot force': R Ashwin opens up on how Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's transition to Test cricket should happen
Against that backdrop, the appeal of Test cricket, with its longer demands, harsher bowling conditions, and fewer financial rewards, can start to look far less attractive, especially to a teenager who has grown up in the T20 era.
"From a comfort perspective, it's (T20) much easier. You're facing short spells, there are only two fielders outside the circle during the Powerplay, the wickets are flatter, it can be a much easier life as a cricketer," he said.
"We'll see what he decides. But regardless of what he (Sooryavanshi) chooses, there will certainly be challenges and pitfalls along the way."
De Villiers was careful not to frame it as Sooryavanshi being irresponsible or short-sighted. He made the point that if the youngster does eventually turn away from Test cricket, the blame should not land on his shoulders.
"You can't blame him. Those decisions are made at the top. It's up to the administrators to find the right balance and make those decisions a little more difficult than they currently are. Right now, the choice is quite obvious (between Test and T20)," De Villiers said.
A road full of bumps, regardless of which format Sooryavanshi picks
De Villiers was not suggesting that Sooryavanshi's career would be smooth sailing in T20s either. He warned that the teenager would hit difficult stretches that would put his character and mental strength under serious examination.
"He will go through difficult patches. His character will be tested. Then it will be up to him to show whether he has the character and mental strength to come through those phases. There are plenty of alarm bells and pitfalls that he could encounter," De Villiers said.
De Villiers said he hopes the young batter has strong mentors and leaders around him, people who can help him navigate the inevitable low points, and that Sooryavanshi himself remains open to accepting guidance.
"At 15, you should still be relatively immature, and he probably is. We'll have to wait and see what happens," De Villiers said.
"I hope he has good leadership, guidance and mentorship around him. I also hope he's open to accepting help along the way because it will be a rocky road. There's absolutely no doubt about that. Especially if he chooses to play Test cricket, which he may not."
Sooryavanshi's father sets a different standard
While de Villiers reflected on the T20 pull, Sooryavanshi's father Sanjeev, has drawn his own very clear line in the sand.
After the youngster starred in India's U-19 World Cup win with a stunning 175-run knock against England, his father said that the benchmark is Test cricket.
“Abhi toh shuruaat hai, abhi bahut aage jaana hai (This is just the beginning, there's a lot more to achieve). Jab tak Test na khele, kya bada cricketer (Till the time he does not play Tests, I won't consider him a big cricketer),” said Sanjeev to Times of India.
MORE: ‘Want to play all three formats’: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi makes ambitious Test & ODI vow after earning India T20I call-up
Sooryavanshi himself wants to play Test cricket, and he has admitted that during the IPL.
"Mujhe red-ball cricket khelna hai kyunki main laal ball se practice karta hoon. Mera sapna teeno formats mein Bharat ke liye khelne ka hai (I want to play red-ball cricket because I practise with the red ball. My dream is to represent India in all three formats)," Sooryavanshi told Rajasthan Royals.
The teenager made it clear that his test aspirations were well-founded and that he had been actively preparing for them.
"I want to play red-ball cricket because I practise with the red ball. Every format has different requirements. I bat this way in this format because that is what it demands," he said.
"In red-ball cricket, I will adapt my batting according to what is needed. In ODIs too, I will adjust my game based on the demands of the format. My dream is to play all three formats. The rest is in God's hands."
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