AB de Villiers backs 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi's T20 selection but expresses doubts about his Test career.
AB de Villiers highly praised the selectors' brave decision. He said that by avoiding the temptation to prioritize experience, the selectors took the right step.
He stated, "It's the right decision. A big congratulations to them for being brave." De Villiers emphasized that Vaibhav earned this opportunity through his performance.
It's easy to say he's too young and not ready. But he has broken down that door, and he deserves his spot in the Indian T20 team.
De Villiers added that he is very happy for the young player and believes it is a positive sign for Indian cricket.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi made history on Saturday when he was selected for the Indian team for the tours of Ireland, England, and the Asian Games.
He has become the youngest player ever to be selected for the national team, thus surpassing the record set by the great Sachin Tendulkar in 1989.
While de Villiers praised Vaibhav's T20 skills, he refrained from making a firm prediction about his Test cricket future.
He said, "Yes, he is a fantastic talent. I absolutely cannot answer the red-ball question."
De Villiers raised a crucial question, "I think he can if he wants to, but the big question is, does he really want to?"
The former South African captain acknowledged that Vaibhav has the talent and ability to succeed in Test cricket, but the path will not be easy.
He said, "If he decides to play red-ball cricket, there will be some challenges, but he has the skill to handle them."
Clarifying his opinion, de Villiers stated, "In my opinion, I hope he tries to play Test cricket, but I have my doubts. We will see in the future."
Vaibhav Suryavanshi's journey to Team India is nothing short of an extraordinary story. His recent performances have stunned everyone.
This young opener for Rajasthan Royals set the stage on fire in IPL 2026. He scored 776 runs at an incredible strike rate of 237.30.
During this period, he also hit a record 72 sixes. In the presence of stalwarts like Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill, Vaibhav also won the Orange Cap along with five major awards.
This performance is a testament to his talent and fearless approach, which caught the selectors' attention.
The praise and constructive criticism from a legendary player is a significant moment for Vaibhav. It will be interesting to see how this young talent shapes his career.
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