Panesar, former England spinner, slammed 15‑year‑old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s technique on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast, insisting the youngster “can’t see him transition to Test cricket.”
Sooryavanshi, a left‑hander from Samastipur, burst onto the IPL scene last season, impressing with a swift 62‑run innings and 3 wickets in a single match, but he never made the top‑order in the national T20I XI, with Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma preferred instead.
Michael Clarke, former Australia captain, shot back that players can thrive across formats if they have the right skill set. Citing Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, Clarke said, “If a player from this generation can make the transition, it’s going to be unreal to watch.” He praised Sooryavanshi’s power and eye for the ball, noting the technique will improve with more exposure.
Sooryavanshi himself chimed in, saying, “Right now, power is still my main thing, but the technique will get better the more I tour with India and train in different conditions.” He’s already tasted red‑ball cricket with East Zone’s Duleep Trophy victory, coming close to a century in the semi‑final.
The clash of opinions hints at a broader debate about a young talent’s future. If Sooryavanshi can harness his raw power and sharpen his technique, he could become a multi‑format star. The next step? He’ll need to prove himself in the 2026 IPL season and perhaps earn a spot in a future India tour that offers red‑ball experience.