While Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has already proven his credentials in white-ball cricket, the big question is whether he can also become successful in Test cricket.
The 15-year-old made a strong case that he is someone who can ace red-ball cricket by helping East Bengal win the Duleep Trophy last month after 13 years, and the team’s coach Ratan Kumar has backed him to change the dimension of red-ball cricket.
The 15-year-old was born after the IPL started, the first such generation that will now play senior cricket. Widespread fears have risen in the cricket fraternity that the youngsters are more focused on white-ball cricket due to the riches of T20 and franchise cricket.
“I feel that he will change the entire dimension of red-ball cricket. He needs some time, but given his batting ability… you’ve seen many players like that where people wondered how they would succeed in red-ball cricket,” said Ratan in an exclusive chat with Sports Now, which was held days after the Duleep Trophy final last month.
“When I say this, it’s because I watched him bat up close in the nets. I felt that whether it’s red-ball or white-ball, he is so skillful that nothing is difficult for him.”
Ratan, who is also the head coach of the Jharkhand team, claimed that the fandom he has seen for the Bihar cricketer is only comparable to Sachin Tendulkar.
“What I felt, I want to share with you-after Sachin Tendulkar, I haven’t seen this kind of craze for a player. There have been many legend players like Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Anil Kumble, Rohit Sharma, but the craze for him…,” Ratan stated.
Ratan further revealed he shares an old relationship with Vaibhav and played cricket with his father in Bihar.
“Vaibhav actually comes from Bihar, and I am also from Bihar. I am from Muzaffarpur, he is from Samastipur. Vaibhav’s father actually used to play cricket with me back in the day,” Ratan revealed.
In the 2026 Duleep Trophy, Vaibhav made 192 runs in three innings at a strike rate of 104.91. He made one half-century, which was a knock of 92 in the semi-final.