Vaibhav Sooryavanshi remains a sensation across the cricketing nations even after being dropped from all three matches in the recently played three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. Since making his IPL debut in 2025, the emerging opener often finds a place in the news either through his personal performance or through comments from former cricketers and cricket experts.
In a recent podcast, two former cricketers presented their own predictions on whether Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has so far shown most of his promising skills in the shortest format of the game, could proceed successfully in the longest format of the game in the future.
Different views on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi if he plays Test cricket
Former England spinner Monty Panesar spoke out against Sooryavanshi, while the former Australia captain Michael Clarke expressed that the young Indian batter has enough quality to shine even in the Tests.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is well known for his batting strength in the Twenty20 format, but he is yet to prove his batting instincts in multi-day matches as well. He played in Youth Test matches, but that was very limited in comparison to the T20 matches he has already played and scored runs in so far.
Can’t see Sooryavanshi transitioning to Test cricket: Monty Panesar
Monty Panesar said that apart from the England white-ball captain Harry Brook, there are very few batters who are currently doing well both in Tests and T20Is. So, he had enough doubts about Vaibhav Suryavanshi for the matches in the Whites.
“I can’t see Vaibhav Sooryavanshi transitioning to Test cricket. Harry Brook is the only one right now who’s in the top 10 in Tests and T20Is. But I just don’t think Suryavanshi has got the technique,” the former England cricketer opined on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast.
Michael Clarke believes in Vaibhav Sooryavanshi even for the Test format
On the other side, Michael Clarke mentioned that Vaibhav Suryavanshi can do a lot in the Tests if the batter himself wants to make a cut in the format. The former Australian batter, for example, mentioned Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, who played prolifically well in both the T20 format and the Test format for India and South Africa, respectively.
“I think you can still play all three formats. Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers showed that. These guys were brilliant Test cricketers and unbelievable T20 cricketers as well. If a player from this generation like Suryavanshi can make the transition into Test cricket, it is going to be unreal to watch. But whether he wants to play Test cricket is going to be a question as well,” said Clarke
“Right now, power is still his main thing, and he has an amazing eye. He picks the ball as well as any young cricketer in the world. The technique will get better the more he tours with India and trains in different conditions. He’s talented enough that, if he wants to do it, I can’t see any reason why he can’t be a superstar in all three formats,” he added.
Source: cricketaddictor.com
