‘You just can’t’: Ashwin reveals why forcing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi into Tests might not work

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi of Rajasthan Royals (AP Photo) Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has backed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for a career in Test cricket, even as the teenage sensation continues to change expectations in white-ball cricket.Sooryavanshi enjoyed a remarkable IPL 2026 campaign with Rajasthan Royals, emerging as one of the brightest young talents in world cricket. The 15-year-old’s fearless batting and consistency throughout the season made him one of the tournament’s standout players and further enhanced his growing reputation.Speaking at the 2026 Cricinfo Honors Awards, where he was named among the top 25 men’s international cricketers of the 21st century, Ashwin shared his thoughts on the youngster’s future and whether Test cricket should be a part of it.“Personally, I think he should play Test cricket. If you think about the greater good of the game, then I believe he should. But that means, can you teach your kids what they don’t want to learn? You just can’t. I think the ecosystem drives these things, and sometimes when the game tells you what to do, it’s better to follow what it tells you,” Ashwin said.The former Indian all-rounder also pointed to the changing trends among budding cricketers, suggesting that fewer youngsters are now considering red-ball cricket as their primary ambition.“You can’t force a particular aspect of the game. Yes, Test cricket is the pinnacle, but I’ve been in grassroots coaching for a long time and I don’t see young cricketers wanting to play red-ball cricket. They defend a few balls and immediately want to learn the strokes that get them out of trouble.”Ashwin’s comments come at a time when Sooryavanshi’s rise has become one of the biggest stories in world cricket. Earlier this year, the teenager was named Player of the Tournament when India lifted the 2026 Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup. He then followed it up with a historic IPL season for Rajasthan Royals.The 15-year-old finished the tournament with 776 runs at a staggering 237.30 and became the first player in IPL history to hit 72 sixes in a single season. In doing so, he eclipsed Chris Gayle’s long-standing record of 59 sixes in 2012. His extraordinary runs also earned him the Orange Cap and Player of the Tournament awards.Meanwhile, Ashwin’s own achievements were recognized during the ceremony. Ranked 25th among the best men’s international cricketers of the 21st century, he retired from international cricket in December 2024 with 765 wickets across formats, the second highest score by an Indian behind Anil Kumble’s 953.In Test cricket, Ashwin finished with 537 wickets, again second only to Kumble among Indian bowlers. He also holds a unique place in the history of the game as the only player to combine more than five Test centuries with more than 500 Test wickets. While his legacy was primarily built on his brilliance as a match winner, his six Test hundreds highlighted the valuable contributions he made with the bat, making him one of the most complete Test cricketers of his generation.