Dravid Advocates Balanced Format Exposure for Teenage Cricketers

Rahul Dravid, the former India captain, emphasizes the importance of balancing white-ball and red-ball exposure for young cricketers like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. He notes, “I think you always have to find that balance,” highlighting Sooryavanshi’s IPL participation alongside domestic red-ball cricket as crucial for development.

The 15-year-old’s journey involves navigating the Duleep Trophy, where East Zone’s run of red-ball matches could offer continuity after fragmented first-class games. Dravid, who coached Sooryavanshi at Rajasthan Royals, stresses patience, acknowledging the teenager’s limited red-ball consistency due to conflicts with Under-19 commitments.

While Sooryavanshi averages 17.25 in eight first-class games, Dravid points to his potential to evolve into a red-ball specialist, stating, “Hopefully someday if he does well… he might become a red-ball player for India.” The Duleep Trophy and upcoming India A vs Australia A series provide opportunities for growth, though Dravid cautions about inevitable ups and downs in performance.

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